Organised by the ALDE Group in the European Committee of the Regions (ALDE CoR), the largest Liberal Mayors Summit so far held during the ALDE Party Congress took place in Madrid, Spain on 9 November 2018. The participants in the Summit call on all liberal mayors around the world to help protect democracy from the rising trend of authoritarian, illiberal, anti-pluralist leaders.
ALDE CoR Group Leader, Mayor of Mechelen (Belgium), Bart Somers said: "Liberals have to stand up on all levels, also on the local level. They need to be more outspoken in defending the pillars of democracy: freedom of speech, transparency, the way we do politics in a respectful way, accepting that people can have a different opinion and listen to it, trying to include it: that’s the reason why we do policy."
More information and a video of the event is available on the website of ALDE CoR.