Warsaw mayor recall campaign delivers signatures to commission

Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz: photo - EPP

If the commission decides that at least 134,000 signatures are valid – amounting to ten percent of the potential electorate in the Polish capital – then a referendum would take place on whether to recall the centre-right Civic Platform's Gronkiewicz-Waltz as mayor of Warsaw.

If she lost the referendum, new elections for mayor would have to take place.

The move follows recall elections in the city of Elblag, in northern Poland, in July which saw the Civic Platform mayor removed and the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) candidate triumph in snap elections.

“We have 232,000 signatures requesting a referendum,” local left wing politician Piotr Guział, who is organising the recall campaign, told reporters.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk, leader of the Civic Platform party, has urged voters to boycott the referendum if it goes ahead.

For the vote to be valid, three-fifths of the number who took part in the last Warsaw presidential elections in 2010 must take part – meaning a turnout of 389,430 would have to be recorded. (pg)

source: PAP