Podlaskie Voivodeship Assembly Vote Fails to Dismiss Marshal Kosicki
The extraordinary session of the Podlaskie Voivodeship Assembly did not result in the dismissal of Marshal Artur Kosicki, a member of the ruling party. A motion to remove him from office was put forward by twelve opposition councilors representing KO and PSL in the thirty-member body.
During the session, 16 councilors voted in favor of dismissal, 11 opposed it, and 3 abstained. According to the Law on Self-Government of the Voivodeship, a secret ballot determines the outcome for the dismissal, requiring a three-fifths majority of the assembly’s statutory composition. In practical terms, 18 votes in favor would have been necessary for the marshal to be removed.
On Monday evening, a group of PiS councilors submitted a request in the session to bring up during an extraordinary session the October request from KO and PSL councilors to dismiss the Voivodeship Marshal. The PiS faction sought a prompt discussion of the dismissal proposal at an extraordinary session to address concerns without delay.
KO and PSL councilors had filed the initial motion to dismiss Kosicki at the end of October, following parliamentary elections. Their justification cited a perceived crisis in local government finances tied to companies tied to the Podlaskie region, such as PKS Nova, and pointed to insufficient road investments, a noted decline in provincial hospital investments, and the allocation of large sums to entertainment events like Disco under the Stars. They also criticized the marshal for prioritizing party interests, including spending funds from the Voivodeship budget on a national referendum campaign held on October 15 alongside the parliamentary elections.
One participant asserted that the conclusions in the motion could not be substantiated.
The marshal argued during the hearing that the motion was unfounded and politically motivated. He highlighted that cooperation within the regional council remained strong across divisions, and that the charges did not reflect the actual situation.
The Podlaskie Voivodeship Assembly ultimately did not dismiss Artur Kosicki from the post of marshal. The mood in the room was described as tense by observers, with some noting that various actors sought to influence governance in the Podlaskie region by arranging a change in leadership during the session.
Commentary on the voting process circulated on social media, with observers from across the political spectrum weighing in on the conduct of the session and the strategic implications for regional governance.
In the aftermath, Kosicki expressed gratitude for the confidence shown by his supporters among the councilors of the Podlaskie Voivodeship and reaffirmed his commitment to continuing work on behalf of regional residents. He emphasized the importance of sustained, practical efforts over the coming months to address local needs.
— analysis and reactions collected for reporting purposes [Polish coverage: wPolityce].
Source attribution: wPolityce