Łukasz Gibała announced on X on Monday, October 12, that the official results of the Kraków mayoral election are in and that he is awaiting his swearing-in. After counting votes from all precincts, he won the runoff with about 62% of the vote.
On Monday morning, Gibała wrote on X that he had the official results, thanked voters for their trust, and added that “we are waiting for the swearing-in and getting to work.”
Runoff results
According to data from the National Electoral Commission (PKW) from all 454 precincts, cited among others by “Gazeta Krakowska”, Gibała received 161,184 votes (62.12%). Monika Piątkowska, the candidate of KO and PSL, received 98,306 votes (37.88%). The margin was over 62,000 votes. The result is close to the exit poll from Sunday evening, which had Gibała at between 61 and about 64%.
In the first round, Gibała won 36.38% (93,042 votes), while Piątkowska received 29.91% (76,514 votes).
Who certifies results and when the swearing-in happens
Data is published by the PKW on the wybory.gov.pl website, but, as the director of the Kraków branch of the National Electoral Office (KBW) told PAP, quoted by “Rzeczpospolita”, the city electoral commission formally establishes the results. It issues the certificate of election, which the winner receives after the results are announced.
According to “Rzeczpospolita,” the session of the Kraków City Council at which the new mayor takes the oath and assumes office should take place within 14 days of the announcement of results in the official journal. As of publication, no date for the session or for the announcement had been given.
Why this election
The election is early because residents voted in a referendum to recall Mayor Aleksander Miszalski. Until a successor was chosen, the city was managed by Stanisław Kracik. Gibała, until now a city councillor, ran from his own committee, “Kraków dla Mieszkańców”; his candidacy was at risk when the commission rejected some of his signatures, but he was ultimately registered.
What it means
Until the swearing-in, the city is still formally managed by an appointed person, and Gibała does not yet have the powers of mayor. If the session takes place within the statutory deadline, the new mayor will take office no later than two weeks after the announcement is published, that is, probably by the end of October or early November. The exact date will be set by the chairman of the City Council.
Update:
Łukasz Gibała has already begun thanking residents for voting for him, and since morning he has been meeting them and taking group photos.
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