Kraków for Residents (, KdM; until 2019 known as the Logical Alternative for Kraków) is a political non-governmental organization and a think-tank founded in December 2014 by entrepreneur and former Member of the Sejm Łukasz Gibała. It serves also as a councillors' club in the Kraków City Council.
The association monitors the activities and decisions of the city authorities of Kraków and proposes measures aimed at addressing urban issues in the city. It organizes social actions, offers free help as part of the and , as part of which Kraków residents may report illegal tree cutting.
KdM is also a councillors' club in the Kraków City Council. Aside from Gibała, members of the club elected for the 9th term (2024-2029) of the City Council were Eliza Dydyńska-Czesak, Łukasz Maślona, Aleksandra Owca, Michał Starobrat, Rafał Zawiślak and Rafał Nowak. The club proposes legislation and interventions on local matters. It also includes a think tank aiding councillors, composed of experts and local activists.
The KdM also issues an eponymous bi-monthly gazette.
Actions
KdM runs projects that involve the residents of Kraków, such as the recurring , campaign during which peace lily seedlings are distributed to draw attention to air pollution levels in Kraków, promoting urban gardening through growing herbs on windowsills or balconies, , an initiative aimed at promoting awareness of zero-waste practices, as part of which reusable bags and zero-waste household cleaning products were distributed. In 2017–2021, the association hosted free workshops on sewing anti-smog masks, construction of DIY air purifiers; several hundred shelters for hedgehogs were distributed to Kraków residents. Through the free legal advice provided by the , over 1,500 Kraków residents were provided with legal advice. As part of the , residents can verify the legality of tree felling. Between 2014 and 2018, the association ran the Majchrowski Watch campaign, during which it monitored 10 selected election promises made by city president Jacek Majchrowski.
Program The KdM's most important program points involve sustained development of the city, which includes better spatial planning to put a stop to the ongoing uncoordinated development, increasing green areas, combating smog, creating a transparent and efficient municipal office, as well as developing the creative economy and providing free public transport for residents paying taxes in Kraków. All of the association's postulates are accompanied by budget estimates based on the city's budget.
In 2024, Gibała and his association have been described as centre-left, and the journalist described him as a "liberal" with "leftist leanings". In an interview with Wielowieyska, Gibała stated that his left-wing views "do not concern economic issues, only urban ones". When Daria Gosek-Popiołek, the New Left Kraków MP, endorsed Gibała in the 2024 Kraków mayoral election, her endorsement was condemned by Razem, which claimed that Gibała is an "extreme economic neoliberal". In 2026, has argued that since 2024 Gibała and his associated have "clearly shifted to the right", and although most of the shift "was tactical in nature", "the changes are also programmatic in nature".
Gibała and KdM are considered liberal. Gibała, who was initially a member of Civic Platform before defecting to Palikot's Movement and founding KdM later, stated that Civic Platform had "departed from its liberal roots" and stated that his own association would focus on "facilities for entrepreneurs" and free-market policies. In a 2024 interview, Gibała stated that he is still a liberal and that he disagrees with Razem on the economy, although he shares its views on "urban issues", noting that together with Razem he postulates the creation of 24-hour abortion care centers staffed by doctors without a conscience clause, preventing city authorities from privatizing municipal apartments, and for green policies. Leadership The KdM is led by a three-person executive composed of Gibała, as leader, Adrianna Siudy, deputy leader, and Barbara Macheta, secretary.
Electoral results President of Kraków Election yearCandidate1st round2nd round Votes % Votes % 2014 Łukasz Gibała 27,090 11.16 (#3) 2018 57,901 17.14 (#3) 2024 79,580 26.79 (#2) 128,269 48.96 (#2) 2026 93,042 36.38 (#1) TBD TBD
Kraków City Council Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– Government 2014 Łukasz Gibała 9,073 3.96 (#6) New 2018 41,953 12.73 (#3) 4 2024 46,012 15.56 (#3) 3
References
External links
Oficjalna strona stowarzyszenia Kraków dla Mieszkańców