UCLG & Global Taskforce

In a few days, on 15 October, thousands of mayors and local leaders from around the world will unite in Bogota, Colombia, for the World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders. This summit is organised by UCLG, the world’s largest organisation of local government associations. It will also be the occasion to elect the President of UCLG, who will represent over 240,000 towns and regions worldwide. For CEMR, the choice is clear: our UCLG needs Mpho Parks Tau as President.

Why this choice? The answer is simple: his experience, his personality, and his values. Mpho Parks Tau is the former mayor of Johannesburg and President of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA). He is the only candidate who will lead our organisation with unity, progress and values at heart. He is the only candidate who will embody a future we can believe in. A candidate who believes in equality, who believes in democracy, who believes in human rights, and who believes these values are universal.

In Europe, Mpho Parks Tau has the support of many mayors, such as mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, and mayor of Berlin, Michael Müller. In fact, the mayor of Paris even said of him: “Our towns and networks are at the forefront of a new global governance. Mpho Parks Tau has all of my trust to speak on our behalf and make UCLG an open, modern and inclusive organisation.” The mayor of Berlin stressed the fact that it is now time for UCLG to have a President from Africa: “As we are heading towards Habitat III, it is just appropriate for UCLG to be led by someone who comes from the fastest urbanizing region of the world. Parks Tau is my choice for UCLG President.”

CEMR, along with many elected representatives, is joining a global campaign in support of Mpho Parks Tau for the presidency of UCLG. Want to support Mpho Parks Tau? Use our campaign materials. Also feel free to follow the campaign and tweet your support for Mpho Parks Tau using the hashtag #UCLGCongress.

UCLG in a snapshot

If you are not familiar with UCLG (United Cities and Local Governments), here are a few key figures – UCLG represents:
 

• 240,000 towns and regions
• 175 local government associations
• 5 billion people in the world
   

UCLG is also a great network that defends the voice of local governments on the global stage, on topics such as climate, urbanisation, finances, and many other issues

The previous Presidents were former mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoë, from 2007 to 2010 and mayor of Istanbul, Kadir Topbas, from 2010 to 2016.