Tunç Soyer becomes President of the Chamber of Regions of the Council of Europe

Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe's (CLRAE) 45th General Assembly unanimously elected him as President of the Chamber of Regions. Along with the presidency of the Chamber of Regions, Soyer also earned the right to officially serve as Vice President of the Congress.

Nominated as the joint candidate on behalf of the Socialist Group, Soyer was elected to the presidency by unanimous vote. As President of the Chamber of Regions, Tunç Soyer will serve for a 2.5-year term and take on a leadership role in establishing more democratic and fair local governments across Europe.

PEACE AT HOME, PEACE IN THE WORLD PRINCIPLE

Accepting congratulations following the election, Mayor Tunç Soyer stated in his first post on his social media account, "At the end of a three-day marathon where the presidents and executive staff of the bicameral structure, which represents 130,000 local governments from 46 countries, were elected, I will represent our Izmir and Turkey at the highest level. As we enter the second century of our Republic, the responsibility of this international duty I have undertaken is as great as the pride it brings. We will work with heart, soul, and passion” he said.

In his speech, Soyer reminded the audience that the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey will be celebrated in four days, stating, “I am fully aware that I owe the position I was elected to today to those who founded the modern Republic of Turkey with their endless commitment to peace and democracy. As we enter a new century, I am taking on this duty to further carry the legacy of Atatürk, who gifted us 100 years of uninterrupted peace with the principle of ‘peace at home, peace in the world.’ I will do my best to crown the Republic of Turkey with a more robust democracy” he added. 

ONE OF EUROPE’S MOST IMPORTANT POSITIONS

Founded on May 5, 1949, the Council of Europe protects the fundamental human rights of 830 million citizens across 46 member states, including the fight against discrimination, democracy, the rule of law, the defense of cultural diversity, and gender equality. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (CLRAE) is among the political bodies of the Council of Europe.

Composed of elected representatives from local or regional administrations, the Congress consists of 612 members representing more than 130,000 local and regional authorities across the 46 member states.

The decision-making processes of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities are conducted within two separate chambers: the Chamber of Local Authorities and the Chamber of Regions. Metropolitan municipalities, councils, and provincial special administrations from Turkey are represented in the Chamber of Regions.

Districts and towns, meanwhile, have the right to be represented in the Congress's Chamber of Local Authorities. The President of the Congress and the presidents of these two chambers are among the three most important actors in the governance of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. These three presidents share responsibility in the Congress's decision-making and management processes.

The presidency of the Congress Chamber of Regions, which holds a highly valuable role in European political dialogue to represent and advocate for regional and urban development, serves as a political dialogue platform that is significant for solving problems in the face of global crises—such as wars, the climate crisis, pandemics, extremism, social injustice, and the decline of democratic values worldwide—that are not merely regional but also deeply affect cities and local governments.