Warsaw gathers signatures for referendum to remove Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski

Citizens of Warsaw have launched a petition to hold a referendum on ousting Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski. The initiative, called “Stołeczna Operacja Referendalna” and led by activist Maciej Wilk, began collecting signatures on 30 July. Within four days volunteers in orange vests gathered about 15 000 signatures at 15 collection points across the city.

To trigger the referendum, organizers must collect roughly 132 000 signatures – about 10 % of eligible voters – by 28 September. Even if the signature threshold is met, the vote will only be binding if at least three‑fifths of the electorate that participated in the last municipal election (around 450 000 people) turn out. The campaign has mobilised several hundred volunteers and plans to expand the number of signing stations.

A similar referendum was held in 2013 to remove then‑Mayor Hanna Gronkiewicz‑Waltz, but it failed because turnout did not meet the required level. Organisers stress that the current effort demonstrates renewed civic engagement in the capital.