Poland debates splitting mayoral power from administration

A think-tank proposal from Klub Jagielloński is reigniting debate over Poland's local government structure. Under the current system, in place since 2002, directly elected mayors hold near-total executive power. The new proposal would separate political leadership from day-to-day administration by creating a quasi-independent municipal secretary role responsible for running the bureaucracy and overseeing staff — aiming to introduce checks on mayoral power without abolishing direct mayoral elections.

The idea touches on a question facing many countries that have moved toward directly elected local leaders: how to preserve strong, accountable local leadership while preventing excessive concentration of power in one office.