Kraków prosecutors investigate mayoral candidate support lists

Kraków mayoral election election fraud investigation voter signature irregularities Marian Banaś Bartosz Bocheńczaka

The Kraków prosecutor's office is investigating potential irregularities regarding the support lists of two candidates for the city's mayoral election: former NIK president Marian Banaś and Konfederacja politician Bartosz Bocheńczak. Both candidates were disqualified from the upcoming early elections on September 27, 2026, after failing to secure the required 3,000 valid signatures.

Election commissioners reported significant discrepancies, including the inclusion of data from dozens of deceased individuals. For Banaś, 3,611 signatures were rejected, while Bocheńczak had 2,289 signatures questioned. The investigation is examining potential violations of the Penal Code, specifically regarding the misuse of election lists and document forgery, which carry prison sentences of up to three and five years, respectively.

In separate polling data for the Kraków mayoral race, Łukasz Gibała leads with 34.8 percent support, followed by Monika Piątkowska at 20.9 percent. These two are projected to face each other in a second round of voting.