Warsaw referendum organizers face deadline for Trzaskowski removal signatures

Organizers of the ‘Stołeczna Operacja Referendalna’ are facing a critical deadline of September 28 to collect enough signatures to trigger a referendum to remove Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski and the Warsaw City Council.

As of mid-September, organizers reported surpassing 100,000 signatures. To initiate the referendum, approximately 132,000 valid signatures are required, representing 10 percent of eligible voters. To account for potential rejections during verification, organizers are aiming for a total between 150,000 and 160,000.

Despite the progress, political figures have expressed skepticism regarding the campaign's success. Tomasz Herbich, a councilor from the Law and Justice (PiS) party, noted that starting the collection in mid-summer may have hindered the ability to reach the threshold. He warned that a failure to collect sufficient signatures could politically strengthen Trzaskowski.

Other local officials, including Sławomir Potapowicz of Civic Coalition and representatives from the Left, have also questioned the logistical feasibility and the appropriateness of using a referendum to address city management issues. For a referendum to be legally binding, it would require a turnout of approximately 450,000 residents.