SOR Has 100,000 Signatures — Can Trzaskowski Be Recalled?

21 September 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

SOR claims 100,000 signatures toward a Warsaw recall referendum. Two numbers matter: about 132,290 valid signatures and 467,333 voters needed.

The citizens’ group Stołeczna Operacja Referendalna (SOR) announced on 14 September that it has gathered 100,000 signatures in its bid to force a Warsaw recall referendum. The Warsaw recall referendum faces two legal hurdles: about 132,290 valid signatures, and later a turnout threshold of 467,333 voters.

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What 100,000 signatures means now

SOR reported the figure of 100,000 signatures on 14 September. Organisers filed the initiative on 30 July 2026. They set a collection deadline of 28 September. The law requires signatures from at least 10 percent of registered voters. In Warsaw that corresponds to approximately 132,290 valid signatures. Organisers therefore still need signatures to reach the statutory minimum.

Signatures must include name, address, PESEL and a handwritten signature. The electoral commissioner will check them. If too many papers fail verification, organisers cannot add missing signatures later. For that reason SOR aims for roughly 150,000–160,000 signatures as a buffer.

Warsaw recall referendum: the two critical numbers

Passing the signature stage does not suspend the mayor. The commissioner has up to 30 days to accept or reject the petition. If accepted, the vote must take place on a day off work no later than the 50th day after publication of the commissioner’s order. SOR lists 13 December 2026 as a planned election date, but that remains unofficial until the commissioner acts.

Even if the referendum is ordered, the result will count only if turnout reaches three fifths of the number who voted in the election that chose the official in question. In the 7 April 2024 mayoral vote, 778,887 voters cast ballots. Three fifths of that is 467,332.2, so the legal threshold is at least 467,333 participants. This figure is higher than the 444,006 votes Rafał Trzaskowski received in 2024. The gap to the turnout threshold equals 23,327 voters.

Reaching 467,333 participants does not itself remove the mayor. Once turnout passes that mark, a simple majority of valid votes must support removal. Also, SOR seeks a parallel question on the City Council. For that question the relevant base is 777,588 valid ballots from the 2024 council vote, which sets a three-fifths threshold at about 466,553 participants.

What happens next and why expats should care

The next clear milestone is 28 September and the number of valid signatures submitted to the electoral commissioner. If the commissioner validates the petition, public debate and campaigning will intensify. Organisers must then persuade enough residents to vote on the chosen day.

For expats, the process matters because decisions by the mayor and the council shape local services. City policies affect public transport, permits, housing projects and municipal contact points for foreigners. A successful campaign could change leadership. Conversely, a failed referendum risks polarising local politics for months.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: In Poland a PESEL is the national ID number used in official forms. Local referendums require signatories to give their PESEL. The electoral commissioner checks names and addresses. If you need municipal services, check the city hall website for guidance. Some processes also reference ZUS (social security) or NFZ (public health insurer) numbers, but those are separate systems.

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