An Important International Role for Mayor Aras

24 May An Important International Role for Mayor Aras

At the Socialist International Council meeting, Ahmet Aras was elected as the Coordinator of Local and Regional Governments.

The Socialist International Council, chaired by Spain’s Prime Minister and Socialist International President Pedro Sánchez and consisting of 89 full members from 81 countries across six continents, convened in Istanbul hosted by the Republican People’s Party (CHP).

At the meeting, Pedro Sánchez announced the establishment of the Socialist International Local and Regional Governments Presidency. Ahmet Aras, President of the Coastal Aegean Municipalities Union and Mayor of Muğla Metropolitan Municipality, was elected as the Coordinator of Local and Regional Governments.

Following CHP Party Leader Özgür Özel’s appointment as Vice President and CHP Secretary General Selin Sayek Böke’s role as Vice President of the Women’s Socialist International, Muğla Metropolitan Mayor Ahmet Aras was also elected as Coordinator of the Socialist International Local and Regional Governments.

Mayor Aras: “We Will Make Our Cities Castles of Equality, Freedom, and Solidarity.”

Mayor Aras, elected as Coordinator of the Socialist International Local and Regional Governments, said: “I sincerely thank the Socialist International and CHP Party Leader Mr. Özgür Özel for entrusting me with this honorable duty. In a time when authoritarian regimes are on the rise and democracy, human rights, and the rule of law are under threat worldwide, we – as social democratic and socialist local governments – will continue to firmly defend democracy, human rights, justice, and peace. We will stand alongside the will of the people and work shoulder to shoulder to make our cities strongholds of equality, freedom, and solidarity. From here, I call for the immediate release of Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu and express our unwavering solidarity with him. Together, we will strengthen democracy, protect human rights, and build a more just and freer future. Thank you.”