Wójtburmistrzprezydent

Wójtburmistrzprezydent is not an official title within Polish public administration. It is a compound, often used informally to juxtapose the three main forms of municipal leadership: wójt, burmistrz and prezydent. The term can appear in discussions about local government to contrast how leadership is organized across different types of municipalities.

In Poland, the basic unit of local government is the gmina. A rural gmina is headed by a wójt, while an urban gmina (a town) is headed by a burmistrz. Larger cities with the status of a city with powiat rights may be led by a prezydent miasta, a title equivalent to mayor used in some metropolitan contexts. The exact form of leadership depends on the form of the municipality and its legal status.

Elections for these positions are held by universal suffrage for five-year terms, and the holder is responsible for the executive management of the gmina or city, including budgetary decisions, local development, and municipal services. The powers and responsibilities of wójt, burmistrz or prezydent are defined by law and vary with the type of municipality and its council.

The term wójtburmistrzprezydent appears mainly in linguistic, political science or media discussions as a shorthand to refer to the spectrum of local executive roles in Poland. It is not a recognized office or hierarchical rung, and there is no formal progression path from wójt to burmistrz to prezydent; each position is established by election within the appropriate jurisdiction.