The left-liberal Democrat is in New York Zohran Mamdani sworn in as the new mayor. The 34-year-old took the oath of office shortly after midnight (local time) in the disused City Hall subway station. His new position is an honor and a privilege that only comes once in a lifetime, said Mamdani. She took the oath of office New York State Attorney General Letitia Jamesaway. A public swearing-in ceremony will also take place later.
New York law requires that a mayor’s four-year term begin upon his election on January 1. Mamdani was elected as the new mayor at the beginning of November. The election caused an international stir. The Democrat appeared publicly as a sharp critic of US President Trump on whom he calls a “fascist”.
Mamdani describes himself as a socialist. A central promise of his election campaign was to make life in the largest US metropolis affordable again. He wants to achieve this, among other things, with a rent freeze for more than a million apartments and free bus rides.
New year, new mayor
The choice of the City Hall subway station for the swearing-in ceremony can also be understood as a political message. According to his office, it is intended to underline Mamdani’s commitment to working people. The stop is normally not open to the public. His predecessor Eric Adams chose Times Square for his first oath of office.
In new York It is traditional for the official swearing-in ceremony to be held in a small circle shortly after midnight. In this way, any confusion about who runs the city should be avoided. Mamdani was born in Uganda the first Muslim mayor of New York. At 34, he is also one of the youngest holders of this office.
A public celebration with tens of thousands of guests is planned for Thursday. The left-wing US Senator Bernie Sanders was supposed to take the oath of office. Left-wing New Yorkers will speak, among others Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. A public street festival is planned around New York City Hall.
