Warsaw to vote in referendum over proposed expansion
PR dla Zagranicy
Roberto Galea
06.02.2017 16:32
A referendum on 26 March will decide whether the Polish capital Warsaw will expand to include a few dozen suburban towns.
Photo: Pixabay/Skitterphoto
The decision was taken on Monday by Warsaw City Hall, with 34 votes for and 19 against.
Councillors from the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party were largely against the referendum.
The plan to expand the city limits was a PiS initiative. The size of Warsaw as an administrative unit would increase threefold under the bill. Supporters say the changes will make life easier for residents of areas around the capital, improving their access to public transport, education, health services and culture.
However, Warsaw mayor Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, a deputy leader of the opposition Civic Platform (PO) party, claimed the bill aims to allow PiS to take control of the capital – thanks to voters in areas that will be administratively included in Warsaw.
Under the bill, 32 outlying municipalities would become part of the Warsaw metropolitan area, and would have a say in selecting the capital’s authorities, including the mayor.
(rg)