Kraków: Łukasz Gibała elected mayor, a new stage for the city

Winner of the 11 October runoff with 62.12% of the vote, Łukasz Gibała is due to take the oath on 20 October at 18:30. His election concludes an early ballot and opens the transition at city hall.

Original AI-generated illustration, reused from the 12 October journal: an imagined scene inspired by Kraków, not a photograph of an election event.

A clear victory in the second round

Łukasz Gibała won the early mayoral election in Kraków. The complete results give the Kraków dla Mieszkańców candidate 161,184 votes, or 62.12%, compared with 98,306 votes and 37.88% for Monika Piątkowska. These figures concern the vote on Sunday 11 October, not an exit-poll estimate.

Turnout reached 44.27%, according to the municipal statement citing the National Electoral Commission. Voting took place in 454 polling stations. The result gives the winner a clear lead, without allowing conclusions about each voter’s individual reasons.

Why was Kraków voting again?

This was an early election following the May referendum that removed Aleksander Miszalski from office. In 2024, he had beaten Gibała in the runoff with 51.04% of the vote. The new ballot therefore marks a reversal from that previous contest.

Monika Piątkowska, backed by the Civic Coalition and PSL, was Gibała’s opponent in this runoff. Understanding the result requires considering this succession of ballots rather than presenting it as the ordinary renewal of a term.

An established figure in local life

Łukasz Gibała is a city councillor, entrepreneur and founder of the Kraków dla Mieszkańców association. Euronews notes that he stood as a candidate without party affiliation and opposed the administration of Jacek Majchrowski as well as that of his successor Miszalski.

His victory therefore does not introduce an unknown newcomer to the local landscape. It turns a long-standing presence in municipal debate into forthcoming executive responsibility. His first decisions will then make it possible to assess how the campaign translates into day-to-day administration.

Taking office: the timetable has changed

The city’s statement, updated on 13 October, announces the oath for Tuesday 20 October at 18:30 during the city council session. The city says the change to the original schedule followed discussions in the council’s main committee.

This replaces the date of 21 October carried in reports published the previous day. At this stage, Gibała is mayor-elect: election and taking office are separate steps. It would be premature to attribute measures already implemented at city hall to him.

What residents can follow next

The transition, presentation of the team and first official decisions will be the next steps to watch. For French-speaking residents of Kraków, useful information will remain the acts and communications that concretely affect municipal services, rather than changes assumed from election night.

An election alone does not change a tariff, an administrative procedure or a transport service. This article presents the verified result and timetable; it does not prejudge the fulfilment of promises or decisions to be announced after taking office.