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Mayor of Rotterdam elected as the best in the world
Mayor of Rotterdam Ahmed Aboutaleb has been elected as the best mayor in the world by City Mayors Foundation who awards this title every two years. This year, they awarded mayors who have shown outstanding leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was also recognized for his commitment to treating all citizens as Rotterdammers, rrespective of their origins and backgrounds. This is, in jury’s opinion, essential for building a strong and fair city.
The jury praised his “exceptional leadership” during the pandemic: “[he] has led the city of Rotterdam since 2009 with courage, patience and humility… During all his years as mayor, Ahmed Aboutaleb has always acted as a father of a very large family”, reports iamexpat.nl.
Mayor Aboutaleb stated: “It is an honour that the people of Rotterdam have nominated me for this. I have the most beautiful job that you can imagine.”
Other Dutch mayors also made the longlist, including mayor of Amsterdam Femke Halsema, mayor of Arnhem Ahmed Marcouch and mayor of Dantumadiel Klaas Agricola.
Mayor Aboutaleb shares the prize with mayor of Grigny Philippe Rio in France who was hailed as a social visionary and pragmatist by the jury.
Mayor Aboutaleb serves as mayor of Rotterdam from 2009 and is one of the longest-serving mayors in Europe.
Photo credit Stijn Hanegraaf/Unsplash
