Tusk Visits Kraków to Back Mayoral Candidate and Pledges Metro and Tourism Tax Support

During a Thursday visit to Kraków, Prime Minister Donald Tusk backed mayoral candidate Monika Piątkowska and announced government support for a local metro project and tourism tax changes.

Tusk backs Piątkowska in Kraków

– I accept your request for the tourism tax to go 100 percent to the municipality, Donald Tusk announced during a joint press conference with Monika Piątkowska, a candidate for mayor of Kraków. The Prime Minister also announced government support for the construction of the metro.

Donald Tusk appeared in Kraków on Thursday to personally support Monika Piątkowska in her campaign ahead of the early mayoral election. The Prime Minister argued that his visit was proof of real support for the candidate, while making several important declarations regarding Kraków’s future, including tourism tax revenue and government backing for the metro.

The Prime Minister’s visit was primarily political support for Monika Piątkowska, the joint candidate of KO and PSL. Tusk admitted that he had previously promised to visit Kraków, but governmental duties prevented him from doing so earlier.

— It was very important to me that Ms. Monika Piątkowska felt authentic support from me. I do not throw words to the wind, the Prime Minister said.

Tusk emphasized that the ultimate decision regarding the election of the mayor belongs to the residents of Kraków. In his view, the role of the government should not be to impose political decisions on local governments, but to provide help when needed.

The Prime Minister also praised the city, joking that as a native of Gdańsk, he could envy Kraków for things like its football situation, mentioning that Kraków has three teams in the Ekstraklasa while the Tricity currently has none.

Tourism tax revenue to remain entirely in the municipality

The most important declaration concerned money from tourists. Monika Piątkowska campaigned to change the draft regulations regarding the tourism tax. In the current draft, 80 percent of the revenue would go to local government and 20 percent to the Polish Tourist Organization, while another idea assumed transferring 100 percent to municipalities. Donald Tusk announced that he would support this solution. — I accept your request and we will implement this change, the Prime Minister declared.

According to his arguments, the fee should not be treated solely as a source of financing tourism promotion, but primarily to compensate local governments for expenses related to heavy tourist traffic. For Kraków, this is particularly significant as one of the most visited places in Poland.

Following the regulatory change, all revenue from the fee would go to the municipal budget. Tusk also announced that the solution may be corrected during parliamentary work.

Government promises funding for the Kraków metro

The second major topic of the conference was the construction of the metro in Kraków, one of the most important infrastructural investments sought by city authorities and residents for years.

Tusk declared that the government is ready to financially support the investment. According to information presented during the visit, the Ministry of Infrastructure has prepared a national financing program for metro projects worth 10 billion euros utilizing European funds.

The Prime Minister assured that Kraków is to occupy a special place in this program, though he stipulated that the city must first do its part, including obtaining necessary environmental decisions and conducting geological research and determinations.

Tusk admitted that such a large investment will mean years of disruptions for residents, but the metro must be viewed as a project solving long-term communication problems. The Prime Minister declared he wants the project continued regardless of who governs in Warsaw.

Campaign enters its decisive phase

Tusk’s visit was not accidental, as Kraków faces an early mayoral election scheduled for September 27. The vote follows a May referendum in which residents decided to recall Aleksander Miszalski from the office of city mayor.

Piątkowska, a senator, ran from her own electoral committee with the support of both KO and PSL. Her candidacy was previously presented by Donald Tusk and Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, and the Prime Minister decided to visit Kraków to support her directly.

The candidate presented her city program a day earlier, focusing on Kraków’s finances, transport, housing, the labor market, and support for youth and families, with special emphasis on the metro and tourism tax.

Residents will make the final decision

During his visit, the Prime Minister combined explicit support for Piątkowska with an emphasis on the independence of residents in making electoral choices, arguing his job as head of government is to guarantee Kraków cooperation and state support.

Tusk also announced that he will visit Kraków again before the September elections.

For Piątkowska’s campaign, Thursday’s visit carries a dual significance as a strong political signal from the KO leader alongside concrete declarations regarding tourism financing and metro construction.