Tobiasz Bocheński is seen by PiS as a candidate who will push Warsaw forward for the benefit of its residents. PiS MP and former Minister of Culture Piotr Gliński conveyed this view to PAP, highlighting Bocheński as the party’s local presidential candidate for Warsaw during the upcoming April elections.
PiS President Jarosław Kaczyński stated that Tobiasz Bocheński will participate as the PiS-backed candidate for presidential duties in the capital during the local elections set for April.
Bocheński’s experience
In an interview with PAP, Piotr Gliński admitted he has known Bocheński’s name for a long time and has maintained a very positive view of his candidacy from the start.
“He is an incredibly hardworking man, full of talent, young energy, and deep experience, having served as a voivode on two occasions”, Gliński noted.
“This is a person who has tackled significant challenges and led major organizations such as the Voivodeship administration”, the MP continued.
Gliński also emphasized that Bocheński understands management and is theoretically prepared, holding a doctorate in legal doctrines. He highlighted Bocheński’s growing dynamism, ideas, efficiency, and dedication.
– Gliński added.
Trzaskowski’s achievements
When asked about the type of campaign he expected in the capital, Gliński referenced the campaign Bocheński had announced.
“I anticipate a substantive campaign tailored to the specifics of local government. Bocheński rightly pointed out that Trzaskowski is not simply a city commuter or a globally traveling figure with national ambitions. He noted how opponents sometimes ride on emotional narratives and European politics, and sometimes refer to post-communism”, Gliński assessed.
“People’s real problems need concrete solutions. After years of PO governance, Warsaw still faces residents without proper sewage systems in many areas. Some may not realize that basic life needs remain unmet in parts of the city”, Gliński stated.
Capital investments
Gliński also addressed housing issues in Warsaw. He described apartment prices as simply outrageous due to policies favoring developers over residents. He questioned why there is no supply of public housing like in Vienna, which could stabilize prices by flooding the market with municipal housing. He criticized the previous government for not implementing such measures and suggested Trzaskowski was preoccupied with other matters.
He argued that basic investments for residents have not been realized in Warsaw. Questions were raised about ring roads, bridges, underground parking, the renovated Congress Hall, and a large sports hall that was planned. He suggested these projects are either in their infancy or not moving forward.
Gliński also noted that the latest ministry communications implied that cultural institutions in Poland were being urged to halt certain investments. This applied to Warsaw as well, potentially delaying the architectural competition for the Polish Royal Opera and risking substantial costs if delays continued.
Investments in museums, essential for Warsaw and Poland, were described as being at risk.
Ideological projects
Gliński warned of ideological projects aimed at closing city centers. He argued that changes should respect how the city was shaped, pointing out that many residents live in areas that are not just workplaces. He criticized plans that could congest and render the city less inhabitable.
Gliński stated that Bocheński provides a guarantee that Warsaw will progress and develop for its inhabitants rather than for ideological aims.
– summarized Gliński.
Tobiasz Bocheński served as the Voivode of Mazovia from April 18, 2023 to December 13, 2023, and previously led the Voivodeship of Łódź from 2019 to 2023. Since autumn 2015, he has held roles including assistant, advisor, and from 2017 director of the Łódź Voivod office related to Zbigniew Rau, who became Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2019.
Bocheński was born on December 15, 1987 in Łódź. He graduated from the Faculty of Law and Public Administration at the University of Lodz, is an academic teacher, and since 2019 has been a doctor of law at the University of Lodz. He has been a researcher of political and legal doctrines and is 35 years old.
The municipal elections are scheduled for Sunday, April 7, with a second round on April 21.