Rafał Trzaskowski may appear more focused on city management, yet concerns linger that several initiatives in Warsaw have stalled. The left-wing candidate for the presidency of Warsaw, Deputy Speaker of the Senate Magdalena Biejat, voiced worries on Poland’s Radio 24 on Wednesday, describing a neglect of housing and rental apartments alongside other essential investments.
Biejat stressed that she is pursuing the best possible outcome and noted there are clear signals pointing to a potential second round in the elections.
According to the left-wing candidate, the current mayor of Warsaw, Rafał Trzaskowski, might be more absorbed in national affairs than in the city’s immediate needs.
Many residents of Warsaw share the sentiment, including the speaker herself, that the city has not received the attention it deserves. While there have been visible developments—a new bicycle bridge opened, a tram line to Wilanów completed—significant projects remain undeveloped, she observed.
– she assessed.
No investment
Biejat added that several transport corridors are underfunded, pointing to the absence of new tram lines to areas like Białołęka or Gocław and noting a shortage of green spaces that affects urban livability.
Housing continues to be a central theme in her campaign. She highlighted the city’s high real estate costs and argued that the scarcity of rental housing represents a serious oversight.
Her plan envisions building rental apartments as a cornerstone program. It would require a substantial investment, described as more than 1.5 billion PLN annually, with the city contributing roughly 350 million PLN from its budget, complemented by government programs to cover the remainder.
– said Biejat.
The municipal elections in Warsaw are scheduled for April 7, with polling hours from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. A second round, if needed, would take place on April 21.
The candidate slate includes Rafał Trzaskowski representing the coalition around the Citizens’ Coalition, Tobiasz Bocheński competing for the Law and Justice list, Magdalena Biejat for the Left and Urban Movements coalition, Przemysław Wipler for the Confederation and non-partisan local government workers, Janusz Korwin-Mikke for the Nonpartisan Electoral Commission, and Romuald Starosielec for the electoral slate of Ruch Repair Polski.
Additional context has circulated online regarding Trzaskowski’s remarks toward Biejat, with some observers calling the remarks inappropriate. The dialogue underscores the heated nature of this campaign, where rhetoric and policy proposals alike shape public perception and voter choice.
These dynamics frame a broader conversation about how Warsaw’s leadership plans to balance growth with the city’s affordability and accessibility. The dialogue around housing affordability, transit expansion, and urban green space remains central to the electoral debate, as the candidates articulate competing visions for Warsaw’s future.
In summary, the discourse surrounding the city’s governance highlights a call for greater investment in housing and transportation, alongside a need to safeguard urban green areas. As residents assess the candidates, the focus remains on practical plans that could translate into tangible improvements for Warsaw’s residents and neighborhoods across the capital.
Source materials reflect local coverage and political commentary, illustrating how the campaign discourse converges with everyday urban concerns and the broader municipal agenda.