English Section

Polish coastal town rewarded with unusual prize for record election turnout

04.06.2025 14:40
Krynica Morska, a resort on the Vistula Spit in northern Poland, will receive... 88 kilograms of paprykarz szczeciński, a traditional Polish canned fish paste, for achieving the country’s highest voter turnout in the presidential election.
Fishing boats at beach of Krynica Morska, a seaside town on Polands Vistula Split. The town is set to receive a quirky reward for recording th highest voter turnout in the country during this years presidential election - 88 kilograms of paprykarz szczeciński - a traditional Polish canned fish spread.
Fishing boats at beach of Krynica Morska, a seaside town on Poland’s Vistula Split. The town is set to receive a quirky reward for recording th highest voter turnout in the country during this year’s presidential election - 88 kilograms of paprykarz szczeciński - a traditional Polish canned fish spread. Photo: PAP/Alamy/Marcin Bielecki

Krynica Morska, a small resort town on the Vistula Spit in northern Poland with just over 1200 residents, achieved the highest voter turnout in the country’s presidential election second round on June 1, with 88.38% of eligible voters casting ballots.

This remarkable result was boosted by tourists, spa guests, and sanatorium visitors who used official certificates to vote outside their registered polling stations, helping the town set a new record.

As a reward for this outstanding turnout, Krynica Morska will receive 88 kilograms of paprykarz szczeciński - a traditional Polish canned fish paste made from fish, rice, Bulgarian tomato concentrate, onions, oil and ground smoked Hungarian paprika. This delicacy was especially popular in Poland during the former communist era in the second half of the 20th century.

Paprykarz szczeciński, a popular local canned fish spread during the communist era in Poland when food was scarce, even has its own monument in Szczecin, a city in northwestern Poland. Photo: PAP/Marcin Bielecki Paprykarz szczeciński, a popular local canned fish spread during the communist era in Poland when food was scarce, even has its own monument in Szczecin, a city in northwestern Poland. Photo: PAP/Marcin Bielecki

In late May, Piotr Krystek, mayor of Szczecin - one of the largest cities in northwestern Poland - launched a campaign to boost voter participation by promising that the community with the highest turnout would be awarded the equivalent number of kilograms of this local specialty.

Opublikowany przez Gmina Miasta Krynica Morska Wtorek, 3 czerwca 2025

Local authorities praised the achievement on social media, encouraging other communities across Poland to promote civic engagement and active participation in elections.

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Source: facebook.com/gminakrynicamorska