A referendum to recall Ciechocinek Mayor Jarosław Jucewicz failed on Sunday after voter turnout reached only 26.46 percent, falling 28 votes short of the mandatory threshold required for validity.
The Outcome and Turnout
In Sunday’s referendum, there were 7,917 eligible voters in Ciechocinek. A total of 2,095 citizens cast their ballots, representing 26.46 percent turnout. For the referendum to be legally binding, a minimum of 2,123 participants were required.
Of those who voted, 2,004 supported the recall of Mayor Jarosław Jucewicz, while 85 voted against it. A small number of ballots were deemed invalid, meaning the mayor remains in office.
Official Response and Local Tensions
Jarosław Jucewicz, mayor since 2022, thanked his supporters and called for an end to the city’s negative atmosphere. He acknowledged potential irregularities during the voting process, including breaches of electoral silence and voter solicitation, but urged residents to focus on the city’s future potential.
Before the vote, Jucewicz characterized the referendum as a political spectacle, suggesting that abstention was a legitimate form of opposition to a pre-written narrative.
Grievances of the Organizers
Referendum organizers accused the mayor of ignoring residents’ voices and steering the city in the wrong direction. Their primary objections included concerns over plans for a biogas plant, the degradation of public space cleanliness, and general dissatisfaction with the city administration and cultural policy.
Jucewicz was initially elected in 2022 following the death of longtime mayor Leszek Dzierżewicz and was re-elected in 2024. With the referendum failing to reach the quorum, there will be no early elections in Ciechocinek.