IPU president-elect pledges space for every nation

ARUSHA, TANZANIA: A newly elected Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) President, Mr Milton Dick, has promised that during his leadership, he will ensure that every nation, regardless of its size, wealth, geography or influence, is respected, heard and seen on the world stage.

Mr Dick, Speaker of Australia’s House of Representatives, made the pledge in Arusha, Tanzania, on Friday, immediately after being declared the winner over two other candidates.

Dr Tulia Ackson, a Tanzanian whose tenure as the top leader of the 184-member union had officially expired, declared Mr Dick the winner after he garnered a total of 182 votes, equivalent to 56 per cent.

His opponents, Ms Sahiba Gafarova, Speaker of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan, and Mr Rojo Edwards Silva, Senator of Chile, received 38 per cent and 6 per cent of the votes, respectively.

“Today [Friday], I make a simple pledge. We will work together. We will listen to one another. We will seek common ground. And we will remember that what unites us is infinitely greater than what divides us,” he said.

He insisted that, no matter where the delegates came from, and despite their differences in language, culture, faith or political tradition, they could all find common purpose, values and hope.

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“That belief lies at the very heart of the vision of the founders of this organisation. Their dream and hope was not simply to create an institution, but a place for dialogue over division, where we champion democracy over conflict,” said the IPU President-Elect.

He promised that during his tenure as IPU President, he would work diligently and serve with humility, lead with integrity and listen with respect.

“And I will always place the interests of the IPU above my own. The world looks to parliamentarians in moments of uncertainty, and it looks to us to defend democracy, to strengthen peace, to protect freedom and to build a better future for the families and the children that will follow us. That responsibility belongs to all of us. Let us ensure that every person and every nation has hope for a brighter future,” he said.

According to him, being elected the 32nd President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union was the greatest honour of his life, adding: “I will never forget the trust that has been placed in me today by members from every geopolitical group, every region and every corner of Australia.”