The UCLG Executive Bureau appointed Mayor of Kazan, Ilsur Metshin as Governing President of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) within a collegial presidency composed of Copresidents, the Treasurers, and Special Envoys. The UCLG World Council gathered in November in Barcelona, bringing together over 100 mayors, vice-mayors and heads of regions from Europe, Asia, South and North America, and Africa physically and over 400 participants totally.
Mayor Metshin will represent the interests of over 250,000 municipalities, regions and metropolitan cities and their associations across the world. UCLG’s members represent over 2/3 of the global population, with a presence in over 140 countries.
The appointment of the new UCLG President took place due to the early resignation of Dr. Mohamed Boudra, who had completed his term as Mayor of Al Hoceima. In accordance with the UCLG Constitution, the position of President calls for local and regional government officials with a political mandate.
Mayor Metshin, commenting in his acceptance speech highlighted the importance of local and regional governments and the communities they represent in the transformation of our societies. Mayor Metshin committed to enhance the visibility of UCLG worldwide. The Governing President further proposed to maintain the spirit of collaboration of the Presidency, traditionally applied in UCLG and enhanced under the past presidency.
President Metshin thanked the previous President, highlighting that President Boudra will accompany UCLG in his capacity as Honorary President, commending also Copresident Thembisile Nkadimeng, who left her mandate at the end of the World Council as she has been appointed Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs of South Africa.
Through a collaboration between UN-Habitat, the General Assembly of Partners and UCLG, Ilsur Metshin proposed to establish an Award entitled “Sustainable Development Goals Implementation Champions.”
“Cities are the root of all transformations, and our task is to help municipalities implement sustainable solutions for the challenges that we are currently confronted with. UCLG is not an organization for mayors, but for all people who live in our territories, at whose well-being we direct all our efforts.” Ilsur Metshin, Mayor of Kazan, UCLG Governing President.