JAKARTA. Joko “Jokowi” Widodo placed third in the 2012 World Mayor Prize after Iñaki Azkuna Mayor of Bilbao in Spain and Lisa Scaffidi of Perth in Western Australia.

Jokowi was awarded for his efforts as the Surakarta mayor for helping to turn the crime-ridden city into regional center of art and culture that has started to attract international tourists, World Mayor announced on its official website on Tuesday. Jokowi was also praised for his campaign against corruption.

While Azkuna, who topped the prize, was awarded for his effort in rebuilding Bilbao and making it debt-free in 2011.

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Runner up Scaffidi, who also won the World Mayor Commendation for services to her city, is considered successful in raising Perth’s international profile, while at the same time making local bread-and-butter issues her priority.

World Mayor is a project conceived and organized by the City Mayor Foundation that was started in 2004. It aims to raise the profile of mayors worldwide and to honor those who have made long-lasting contributions to their communities. (The Jakarta Post)