The Clean Transport Zone has become one of the sharpest dividing lines in the race for Kraków’s city hall, with candidates presenting radically different visions during a special edition of „Śniadanie Rymanowskiego” on Polsat News and Interia. The politicians clashed over whether the zone protects residents’ health or pushes them out of the city.
The host, Bogdan Rymanowski, recalled a recent stunt by Grzegorz Braun and Michał Klimek of Konfederacja Korony Polskiej, who cut down an SCT sign. The sign was not genuine – it was a prop attached to railings with zip ties. Rymanowski asked the candidates whether the zone helps the people of Kraków or leads to their exclusion.
Łukasz Gibała attacked the current shape of the zone and promised that, if he becomes mayor, residents will be able to speak about its size in a referendum.
– My opinion is that this zone, which was introduced, is terrible. That is why I did not support it. I believe residents should make such decisions themselves – said Łukasz Gibała.
Gibała argued the zone should be much smaller. He criticised the option of entering it after paying a fee.
– If someone has a very smog-producing car, they can still enter this zone, as long as they pay 5 zlotys. The question is where the ecological effect is – he said.
According to the independent candidate, the present design of the zone may be read by residents as a form of economic pressure.
Piątkowska wants the zone capped at the second ring road
Monika Piątkowska, backed by Civic Coalition and the Polish People’s Party, assessed that the Clean Transport Zone in its current shape covers too large an area of the city.
– In its current shape it is definitely too wide. I have said this from the very beginning – she pointed out.
Her proposal is to limit the zone to Kraków’s second bypass and to hold public consultations.
– My proposal is the following: the Clean Transport Zone up to the second bypass of Kraków – she declared.
Piątkowska also accused Gibała of having supported an earlier resolution concerning the zone.
Gosek-Popiołek: health should come first
Daria Gosek-Popiołek, a sitting Left MP, took the opposite stand. She argued that the health of residents has to be the priority when decisions about the zone are taken.
– The president should be guided by the health of residents, should strive for it – she said.
She pointed to the impact of polluted air on children, pregnant women and elderly people.
– I believe the Clean Transport Zone is a tool that helps us protect the life and health of children, pregnant women and elderly people – she listed.
Michał Drewnicki of Law and Justice stressed that he had opposed the introduction of the zone during votes in the Kraków City Council.
– I voted twice against introducing the Clean Transport Zone, whether it was the zone of president Majchrowski or of president Miszalski and the Civic Coalition – he said.
Drewnicki insisted that his position on the zone has been consistent, and he criticised the earlier actions of his rivals.
The creation of the Clean Transport Zone in the Małopolska metropolis was one of the key reasons for the referendum that ended with the removal of the then mayor, Aleksander Miszalski. The early mayoral election is scheduled for Sunday, 27 September, with a possible second round on 11 October.
Źródło: Polsat News, Fot. Polsat News
