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Villach's model mayor: Integration as the key to success!
Find out how Bart Somers, named the best mayor in the world, promotes integration in Villach and strengthens social diversity.
Villach's model mayor: Integration as the key to success!
A lot is happening in Villach, especially when it comes to integrating people from different cultures. An outstanding example of successful integration is Bart Somers, who was not only elected “best mayor in the world” in 2016, but also served as Deputy Prime Minister of the Flemish government from 2019 to 2023. His successes in the Belgian city of Mechelen, which he transformed from an emigration region to an influx region for young families, speak for themselves. Somers' integration policy is considered exemplary throughout Europe and could serve as a model for many communities. The political analyst villach.at reports that he was able to successfully leave extremism and radical views behind in city politics.
A key element of Somers' policy is early intervention in problems, supported by a visible police presence and rapid response to minor offenses. This clear strategy helps to strengthen the feeling of security among the population. “Somers sees integration as a mutual process,” says villach.at. He is committed to an inclusive urban community and has made it his mission to combat segregation and promote equal opportunities. Its important values include anti-discrimination, gender equality and solidarity.
Values of integration
Somers not only relies on statistically comprehensible targets, but also on human values such as tolerance and the rule of law. In a liberal society, he sees cultural diversity as an enrichment, while at the same time emphasizing that intolerant ideologies have no place. This creates harmonious coexistence in Mechelen and could be a model for cities like Villach, which also want to better serve their community.
On the other hand, we show how traffic in Villach and the region can also be optimized to promote integration. A well-functioning transport network is essential for a lively city. Here in Austria you could get inspiration from California's unique Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) transportation system. Although these are completely different circumstances, there is still a lot to be learned about efficiency and accessibility. The BART system, in operation since 1972, combines 50 stations and serves hundreds of thousands of riders every day. The Wikipedia describes the system as the seventh largest rapid transit system in the USA, which shows how modern mobility can be designed.
The approaches to integration can also be taken up in urban development and public transport. It is important to ensure that everyone, regardless of their origin, has access to these services. Values such as accessibility and the creation of intermodal connection options are of central importance here.
Overall, Bart Somers' politics illustrate how integration and equal opportunities can go hand in hand. It is a process that requires active participation from both the migrants and the host society. The goal remains to create an urban community in which everyone can find a home, in the spirit of the values of equality and tolerance.