Initiators of the referendum accused president Zabrz, including group dismissals in local units, deficiency of money in the city's cash register, garbage chaos and prolonged privatisation of Górnik Zabrze.
In a Sunday referendum in 155,000 Zabrze, the city president Zabrze Agnieszka Rupniewska was recalled, supported by the Civic Coalition in the local elections. As a result, fresh presidential elections will be held in Zabrze. By the time they are carried out, the city will be headed by the Commissioner, in this case the deputy president of the city of Zabrz Tomasz Olichwer (KO)
The inhabitants of Zabrza received 2 cards at the polling stations - on 1 was the question of cancellation before the end of the Rupniewska term, on the another - the city council. As always during the referendum, attendance was the most important. In this regard, president Rupniewska encouraged her sympathizers not to take part in the referendum in order to cancel the result.
In order for the referendum to be an crucial part of it it must take no little than 3/5 voters who elected the president a year ago – 25 900.
In the referendum there were 29,207 valid votes, which makes the referendum binding, 27,161 voters were in favour of recalling president 2,046 – against.
Agnieszka Rupniewska has been president of Zabrz since May last year. She won the election as a candidate for the Civic Coalition, scoring 57.85 percent of the vote.
As for the referendum on the cancellation of the city council, about 29.6,000 votes were needed. Meanwhile, 29 106 valid votes were cast in the Sunday referendum, 26,551 voters voted against and 2.555 voted against. Thus, the Referendum on the cancellation of the city council of Zabrza is not binding due to besides small attendance.
In the municipal election in 2024, the Civic Coalition won 11 seats, Better Zabrze Kamila Żbikowskiy 5 mandates, Law and Justice 4 mandates, Shulik Manka Committee 4 mandates, Zabrzeń Social Initiative 1 mandate.
Robert Rutkowski
