The Warsaw City Council voted against two proposals to restrict nighttime alcohol sales, with President Rafał Trzaskowski’s plan sparking sharp criticism from politicians and citizens.
Controversy Over Alcohol Sales Ban
The Warsaw City Council’s decision to reject two proposals for restricting nighttime alcohol sales has sparked controversy, with President Rafał Trzaskowski’s proposal being criticized by politicians and citizens. The proposals, one from Trzaskowski and the other from the Left and the “Miasto Jest Nasze” movement, aimed to limit alcohol sales in the city.
Criticism of Trzaskowski’s Proposal
Tomasz Walczak from “Super Express” criticized Trzaskowski’s proposal, saying it was a “joke” and that the president was behaving like the ruling Law and Justice party when it had a majority in the Sejm. Łukasz Pawłowski, president of OGB, suggested that Trzaskowski’s team could learn from the US Democratic Party’s approach to changing trends and voter needs.
Reactions from Politicians
Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, minister of funds and regional policy, questioned whose interests Trzaskowski’s own councilors were protecting, given the president’s influence in Warsaw. Sebastian Kaleta, a Law and Justice MP, accused Trzaskowski of capitulating to his own political camp and announced that his party would submit a request for a local referendum.
Radical Criticism
Jan Mencwel, a councilor, accused Trzaskowski of manipulating public opinion, saying he had withdrawn his proposal just before the council meeting and replaced it with a non-binding statement. Jakub Żulczyk described the behavior of Warsaw’s PO councilors as “scandalous” and accused them of ignoring the city’s residents’ concerns.
