On 16 January this year we had the pleasure of welcoming Leoluca Orlando, Mayor of Palermo, to Zurich. A tour of the waste incineration plant in Hagenholz was followed by a meeting with the Mayor, accompanied by his deputy mayor, the Italian ambassador and the Italian Consul General. The discussion focused on refugee policy and Palermo’s commitment to a migration policy based on humanity and solidarity, but also looked at options for increased cultural exchange between Zurich and Palermo (in 2018 Palermo was both the Italian Capital of Culture and the venue of Manifesta 12). Besides Mayor Corine Mauch, two members of the city council, Raphael Golta and Filippo Leutenegger, also participated in the meeting. Leoluca Orlando, who was elected Mayor of Palermo for the fifth time in 2017 and is famous for his fight against the Mafia, is one of Italy’s best-known politicians. On the evening of 16 January, he gave a talk on the “Rebirth of Palermo” at the Kaufleuten.
Christina Wandeler, Project Manager Urban Development Zurich
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