Poland held local government elections across the country in April 2024. In Kraków, the vote covered the position of Mayor (Prezydent Miasta Krakowa), members of the City Council (Rada Miasta Krakowa), and members of district councils (rady dzielnic). Official results were published by the National Electoral Commission (pkw.gov.pl).
The elections marked the first local vote after the 2023 parliamentary elections, which shifted the national political balance. The local results in Kraków reflected some, but not all, of those national trends at the city level.
Turnout
Voter turnout in the Kraków mayoral election in the first round was higher than the national average for local elections in 2024, according to official National Electoral Commission data. The second round, required because no candidate secured an outright majority in the first round, saw a further mobilisation of voters.
Official turnout figures by district (dzielnica) are published in the National Electoral Commission's post-election documentation and are available for download from pkw.gov.pl.
Data Source Note
All turnout and result figures referenced in this article are drawn from the official National Electoral Commission (Państwowa Komisja Wyborcza) published results, available at pkw.gov.pl. These are the authoritative official records under Polish electoral law.
City Council Seat Distribution
The Kraków City Council has 43 seats. Council elections in Poland use proportional representation within multi-member constituencies. Following the April 2024 elections, the distribution of seats changed compared to the previous council term. The post-election council composition is documented in the official protocols published by the Municipal Electoral Commission for Kraków.
Key changes in seat distribution affected the balance between pro-government and opposition groupings on the council, with implications for committee leadership and the passage of mayoral proposals.
Mayoral Race
The mayoral race in Kraków proceeded to a second round. The incumbent entered the second round as the leading candidate from the first round. The second-round result, as certified by the electoral commission, determined who would hold the mayoral office for the 2024–2029 term.
Under Polish local government law, the mayor (prezydent miasta) is directly elected by residents for a five-year term. The mayor chairs the city executive and is responsible for implementing council resolutions and managing the municipal administration.
District Council Elections
Kraków's 18 districts each have a separately elected district council. The April 2024 elections included district council races alongside the mayoral and city council votes. District councils are consultative bodies that comment on planning decisions and investment proposals within their area before city council votes.
District council election results are documented separately on the National Electoral Commission portal, organised by district.
What Changes After an Election
Following local elections in Poland, the newly constituted council holds an inaugural session within 7 days of the official results being published. At this session, the council elects its speaker (przewodniczący) and deputy speakers, and constitutes its standing committees.
- Standing committees for Kraków cover: finance and economic policy, urban planning and architecture, infrastructure, education and culture, social policy, and environment
- Committee membership is proportional to the political composition of the council
- The mayor presents a programme of priorities for the term, which is debated by the council but does not require a formal vote for adoption
How to Monitor the New Council
Council session schedules, agendas, and voting records for the new Kraków City Council term are published on:
- krakow.pl — official city portal with session streams
- bip.krakow.pl — full resolution and committee record archive
- pkw.gov.pl — official election results and protocols