In the age of social media, politicians often care about their image, but sometimes the line between reality and fiction blurs in a funny yet controversial way. The latest example comes from Kraków, where Civic Coalition (KO) councillor Magdalena Mazurkiewicz became the subject of an online debate after a photo appeared on her Instagram profile in which she had “pasted” herself next to Kraków Mayor Aleksander Miszalski and Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski. The incident quickly spread across the web, sparking a wave of comments and jokes, while also shining a light on the pressure local politicians feel in the fight for attention and standing.
What happened at Szczepański Square?
The whole story began with the traditional “Singing Lesson” (Lekcja śpiewania), a popular cultural event in Kraków, held on Sunday afternoon, 21 December 2025, at Szczepański Square. The special guest was Rafał Trzaskowski, Mayor of Warsaw, who was welcomed on stage by Aleksander Miszalski, Mayor of Kraków. KO politicians, including City Council Chairman Jakub Kosek and event organiser Waldemar Domański, posed for group photos with participants dressed in traditional folk costumes. The backdrop was the picturesque Main Market Square, and the atmosphere was festive, with carols, crowds of residents and a Christmas mood.
One of the photos, posted on Instagram by Jakub Kosek (jakub_kosek_rmk), showed a group of politicians and artists. Magdalena Mazurkiewicz was not in it. However, an almost identical photo then appeared on the councillor’s profile (magdalenamaz), with one key difference: in place of a young man in traditional dress, Mazurkiewicz’s face had been inserted. The difference was obvious enough that internet users quickly noticed it, and screenshots spread across platforms such as X (formerly Twitter).
Wave of online reactions: from laughter to criticism
The incident quickly went viral. The first alarm was raised by Mateusz Jaśko, creator of the Facebook page “Co jest nie tak z Krakowem” (“What’s wrong with Kraków”), who wrote on X: “KO COUNCILLOR PHOTOSHOPS HERSELF INTO PHOTO WITH RAFAŁEK XD”. He pointed out that Mazurkiewicz had removed “some guy” from the photo to take his place next to Trzaskowski, and added ironically: “God, why do these people always have such a craving for celebrities XD”. The post garnered over 2,200 likes and hundreds of comments, including from well-known figures such as Krzysztof Stanowski, who commented: “WHAT JUST HAPPENED HERE”.
Reactions were mixed, ranging from playful memes (for example, comparisons to “Grażynocracy fighting with Photoshop”) to harsh criticism. Many internet users pointed to the councillor’s desperation, linking it to her earlier history: after the 2024 local elections, Mazurkiewicz received a post at the Juliusz Słowacki Theatre. According to opposition councillors, this was a “bailout for the household budget,” since work in the City Council supposedly interfered with her normal professional activity. Jaśko also reminded people that the councillor has photos with Miszalski in her portfolio, which further underlines her “craving for celebrities.”
There were also voices in her defence, though in the minority. Some suggested it was a joke or a technical error rather than deliberate manipulation. Soon after the affair erupted, the photos disappeared from Mazurkiewicz’s Instagram, which only fuelled the discussion.
Councillor's statement: "Manipulation without my knowledge"
Magdalena Mazurkiewicz responded quickly to the wave of comments. In a statement published on Facebook she wrote: “Yesterday my image was manipulated, a photo was altered without my knowledge or authorisation. I do not approve of such actions and manipulation of someone’s image, and I will not consent to it. To those who felt manipulated, above all the gentleman in the photo whose image was replaced with mine, I apologise.” In an interview with the LoveKraków.pl portal, she explained that she works with three people responsible for multimedia, and that one of them made the edit without her consent. She stressed that she was not present at the event, which the original photo confirms.
The councillor, elected from the Civic Coalition list in constituency No. 7 (she received 2,085 votes), chairs the Committee for Culture and Protection of Monuments in the Kraków City Council. Earlier, in September 2024, in an interview with the Magiczny Kraków portal, she spoke about her role in culture: “It is an honour, a challenge and a responsibility.” Now, however, she has to face an image crisis that may affect her reputation.
Hard to find a job in Kraków? Political reality under Wawel
The headline’s irony, “it’s so hard to get a job in Kraków that the councillor decided to paste herself in,” captures the broader context well. The job market in the capital of Lesser Poland is competitive, and local politicians often fight for visibility to maintain their position. Mazurkiewicz, as a councillor and theatre employee, symbolises what Jaśko called “cronyism”, where public posts serve as financial stability. The affair also shows how social media can quickly turn a minor incident into a nationwide sensation.
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