In its first session during the 104th World Congress, the Committee of UEA (Universala Esperanto-Asocio = World Esperanto Association) elected a new Board to lead the Association for the next three-year period.
In the presence of 35 members of Committee A, representing the affiliated national and specialist associations, and 5 members of Committee B, elected by the individual members, the Committee firstly completed itself by the election of 9 members of Committee C: Duncan Charters, Andreas Diemel, Mark Fettes, Trezoro Huang Yinbao, Dennis Keefe, Zsofia Kóródy, François Lo Jacomo, Stefan MacGill and Rakoen Maertens.
There were nine candidates for the Board in total, including two candidates for President: Duncan Charters and Fernando Maia. The other candidates were Chen Ji, Trezoro Huang Yinbao, Aleks Kadar, Orlando Raola, Jérémie Sabiyumva, So Jinsu and Amri Wandel. The Committee needed three votes to decide on the size of the new Board, but finally supported the recommendation of the Electoral Committee on eight positions.
The most contested election was for the President. Both candidates confirmed their willingness to collaborate in a board led by the other, and both emphasized the need for a harmonious, collaborative atmosphere. In the first round, neither of the two candidates received the required majority. In the second ballot, Charters was elected with one more vote than Maia.
The new Board ended up as follows: Duncan Charters (president); Fernando Maia and Trezoro Huang Yinbao (vice-presidents); Aleks Kadar (Secretary General); and Orlando Raola, Jérémie Sabiyumva, So Jinsu and Amri Wandel. The division of tasks decided by the Board during its Wednesday session is as follows:
- President: Duncan CHARTERS – Coordination, Strategy, Education, Relations with ILEI
- Vice President: Fernando Jorge PEDROSA MAIA Jr – Central Office, Constitutional Reform, External Relations (except for UNESCO), America, Relations with TEJO, Relations with Member Organisations
- Vice President: HUANG Yinbao (Trezoro) – Finances, UNESCO
Secretary General: Aleks KADAR – Administration, Twin Cities, Esperanto Centres, Europe, Esperanto magazine - Orlando E. RAOLA – Culture, Congresses, Library, Publishing, Research and Documentation, Terminology
- Jérémie SABIYUMVA – Africa, Activist Decelopment
- SO Jinsu – Asia, Oceania, Informtion and Friends of Esperanto
- Amri WANDEL – Scientific and Specialist Activities, Middle East and North Africa
The new Board took office on Monday, 22 July, within the framework of the third Committee meeting in Lahtio.
[UEA Press Release, No. 812, 2019-07-25 (translated) CC BY 4.0]