Strasbourg, 31.03.2026 - At the opening of its 50th session in Strasbourg today, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe elected Gunn Marit Helgesen (Norway, EPP/CCE) its President for a term of two and a half years.
Ms Helgesen is a member of the County Council of Telemark and President of the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS). She has been Head of the Norwegian Delegation to the Congress and a Congress Vice-President since 2012, and President of the Chamber of Regions from 2016 to 2021. As a member of the Congress' Monitoring Committee, she was a rapporteur on the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in several countries, including Armenia, Cyprus, Ireland, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. At different times, she represented the Congress in the Council of Europe's Venice Commission and North-South Centre.
In Norway, Gunn Marit Helgesen was Chair of Telemark County Council from 2003 to 2011. From 1993 to 2009, she was substitute member to the Norwegian Parliament from Telemark County. She had also served as local councillor in the City of Porsgrunn.
"In these challenging times, it is more important than ever to revitalise local and regional democracy, uphold our values at the level closest to citizens, and keep Europe united in the face of global threats," stressed President Helgesen in a statement after her election.
