KO Councilor’s 1.6 Million Zloty Income Sparks Political Controversy

Dawid Kacprzyk, a 29-year-old Civic Coalition councilor in Warsaw’s Ursus district, faces public scrutiny after his latest asset disclosure revealed earnings of nearly 1.6 million zloty from medical services last year.

The Medical Income Breakdown

Dawid Kacprzyk works as a doctor and coordinator of the Emergency Department (SOR) at the Southern Hospital. According to the facility, his income stems from civil law contracts, covering his coordination duties, patient care, night and holiday shifts, and anesthesia specialization training.

The hospital maintains that Kacprzyk clocked 3,976 hours in 2025, averaging 331 hours per month. The facility stated that his hourly rate was determined through an open, public competition and aligns with standard market rates for Warsaw hospitals.

Political Fallout and Resignation

The disclosure triggered sharp criticism from opposition figures, including PiS spokesperson Rafał Bochenek, who mocked the situation as a product of loyalty. Even within the Civic Coalition, Warsaw Deputy Mayor Renata Kaznowska labeled the earnings scandalous, noting that while such high salaries exist in the healthcare sector, the optics are damaging.

Kacprzyk has not publicly commented on the controversy. Following the media reports, he resigned from his membership in the Civic Coalition and deactivated his Facebook fan page, which had approximately 15,000 followers.

The Expert Perspective

Political scientist Prof. Agnieszka Kasińska-Metryka suggests the scandal provides useful political fuel for the opposition to illustrate systemic pathologies. However, she believes the issue lacks significant long-term political weight due to the councilor’s low national profile.

Kasińska-Metryka criticizes the Civic Coalition for its slow crisis management and lack of internal oversight. She argues that while the case will be weaponized in upcoming campaigns, the individual at the center of the controversy will likely be forgotten as new political developments emerge.

Broader Challenges for the Civic Coalition

The incident coincides with other troubles for the Civic Coalition, including the recall of Krakow Mayor Aleksander Miszalski in a recent referendum. Following this loss, Prime Minister Donald Tusk dissolved the party’s Małopolska structures to allow for a complete reorganization.

The party is now preparing for early mayoral elections in Krakow, with Senator Monika Piątkowska serving as the coalition’s candidate. Analysts suggest that the party’s future success in the region depends on distancing itself from the recalled mayor and focusing on the upcoming electoral cycle.