Azerbaijani national living in Germany, Huseyn Kamalzade, has been elected as an official member of the Advisory Council for Foreigners and Integration following municipal elections held in the city of Erlangen.
The position is considered one of the highest-level elected representative posts available in city governance to people who do not hold German citizenship, News Cover reports, citing Azerbaijan's State Committee on Work with Diaspora.
Kamalzade gained the trust of voters, defeating candidates from India, Iran, Syria, China, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Pakistan. One notable aspect of the result is that approximately three-quarters of the votes he received came from representatives of different nationalities. The outcome has been viewed as an indication of the reputation he has built among diverse communities, his commitment to mutual respect and his successful cooperation with people from different backgrounds.
“I regard this trust as a great responsibility. During my six-year mandate, I will do my utmost to faithfully represent the interests of all people living in our city, particularly migrants, students and families, and to promote integration and equal opportunities. This means ensuring that the voices of Azerbaijanis living in Germany are heard more strongly, that our community is properly represented, and that new opportunities are created for future generations,” Kamalzade said, commenting on his election to the new position.
Kamalzade’s achievement is considered not only a personal success but also another positive indication of the growing reputation of the Azerbaijani community in Germany and the development of the Azerbaijani diaspora. This year, he was also elected Deputy Chair of the University’s Doctoral Convention as a doctoral student at the Faculty of Medicine of FAU Erlangen–Nürnberg University.
For context, Erlangen and the surrounding region are among Germany’s most important economic and scientific centres. The area is home to internationally renowned companies such as Adidas, Puma, Schaeffler and Siemens. In this regard, the representation of an Azerbaijani in the city’s governance is considered particularly significant both locally and internationally.
