Corine Mauch has become the first female and first openly lesbian mayor of Zurich, Switzerland.

According to PinkNews, Mauch won by 11,000 votes in an election that followed the surprise resignation of incumbent Elmar Ledergerbert late last year.

UKGayNews reports:

Forty-eight-year-old Corine Mauch has been living with her partner for many years.  In today’s election, the social democrat won against her liberal opponent.

The organisers of EuroPride 09 said in a statement this afternoon that they were “overjoyed by the result of the election and congratulate Corine Mauch on her victory”.

EuroPride said today that the newly elected mayor will deliver a speech at the opening ceremony of the traditional parade together with European Parliament member Daniel Cohn-Bendit and Moldavian human rights activist Mihaela Copot.

‘This is a real stroke of luck for the EuroPride in Zürich,” commented Michael Rüegg, spokesman of the EuroPride.

“None of us really expected that.  The election was held because Corin Mauch’s predecessor went into early retirement.

“It only became known near the end of 2008 that the office would be up for election.”

With the election of Ms. Mauch, Zürich is now in good company.  Paris, Berlin and Hamburg have had openly living gay mayors for some time.  Zürich has now what is believed to be the first openly lesbian mayor among international top cities.