Jean-Claude Frécon, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities until October 2016, member of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly and French Senator, passed away on Saturday 10 December 2016 following a heart attack. He was 72 years old. Congress President Gudrun Mosler-Törnström conveyed the condolences of all the members of the Congress to his family and loved ones. She praised the boundless commitment of a ''true activist for local democracy'', and added; ''we have lost not only a great President of our assembly but also a very dear friend who was loved by all.'' A tribute will be paid to him at the Parliamentary Assembly Session in January 2017 and at the Congress Session in March 2017.