Rafał Trzaskowski survives confidence vote amid Warsaw South Hospital scandal

A controversy surrounding Warsaw’s South Hospital (Szpital Południowy) has dominated the city’s political scene. Allegations include preferential treatment for Civic Coalition politicians, inflated earnings by former SOR coordinator Dawid Kacprzyk (claimed 1.6 million zł in 2025), procedural errors leading to patient deaths, and suspected fraud exceeding half a million zł. The prosecutor’s office opened two investigations: one for fraud and another for mismanagement.

Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski ordered an audit, dismissed the hospital’s board and supervisory council, and filed a criminal complaint against Kacprzyk. The audit found deficiencies in work‑time recording and raised concerns about patient safety. Opposition politicians and civic groups called for his resignation, and a petition launched a “Stołeczna Operacja Referendalna” to gather signatures for a local referendum to remove the mayor.

Despite protests, a city‑council vote on 26 June gave Trzaskowski a vote of confidence (36 for, 2 against, 1 abstention). A SW‑Research poll for Wprost showed 44.5 % of respondents favored his resignation. The New Left moved to opposition, while the Civic Coalition retained a comfortable majority in the 60‑member council.