In an atmosphere of unity and optimism, the swearing-in of the new mayor of Northern Tzoumerka, Nikolaos Vaitsis, of the newly elected municipal councilors and the presidents and members of the local councils, took place at the Municipality headquarters in Pramanta.
Metropolitan Artis officiated at the inauguration. Kallinikos and was attended by the deputy regional governor Ilias Gartzonikas, the outgoing mayor of North Tzoumerko Yiannis Senteles, the mayor of Thermo Etoloakarnania Spyros Konstandaras and a large number of citizens, who filled the conference center of the Municipality.
“Today we took an oath of honor and responsibility towards every citizen of the North Tzoumerka Municipality, whether they have chosen to live in this place, or live far away, but want to maintain unbreakable ties. We swore that we will work hard, honestly, transparently and methodically for the Municipality of North Tzoumerka, which we all want and dream of. For our Municipality to be a model mountain self-governing organization and at the same time a sustainable and developing place, which will be able to see the future with optimism and extroversion. In order to achieve this, we will have to work responsibly and collectively in a productive climate, a climate of broader convergences and consents”, stressed the newly elected mayor Nikos Vaitsis at the beginning of his speech, characterizing the oath as a “contract of honor”, which he himself as all elected officials must observe daily.
Mr. Vaitsis did not enter into the process of programmatic statements, contenting himself with emphasizing that the municipal authority will be present “for both the small and the large, for all together and for each one separately”, while assuring that his door will be open for everyone, calling on all those who assume positions of responsibility to be on the side of residents and professionals.
At this point he assured the presidents of the small communities that all the villages will get what they deserve, his voice breaking with emotion and his eyes watering as he referred to his recently deceased mother, who came from the Zagori Gardens and conveyed to him her love for small villages.
Commitments towards his predecessor and the Metropolitan of Arta
Addressing Yannis Sendele, whom he described as his self-governing father, he assured him that he would try to make everything he envisioned for the place a reality, and asked him to be by his side.
He also made a commitment to Metropolitan Artis, telling him that in addition to supporting “the benevolent work for the benefit of the faithful”, he will also do everything in his power to advance conservation and restoration projects of the unique religious monuments in the area .
After all, Metropolitan Kallinikos had asked him this earlier, wishing him success in the tasks he is undertaking. “United local government together with the Church can give very good examples of writing for the development of a place. Because the purpose of the Church is not to preserve the ashes, but to transport the flame and all that we today have received and consider as monuments and sights, to invite people to come and show them, are what the flame of the heart of some people, who believed in Christ, created and continue to create. Therefore, therefore, and with much confidence, because we know you very well, we know that God will help you to be able to continue all that you are receiving, and that this place may see days of glory, which anyway it is a pride for the region,” he said among other things, then exclaiming “Worthy”.
Best wishes and congratulations
Hearty wishes to his successor from 1the of January “to have great success in the difficult, but very attractive and very interesting project that he and his colleagues will have in front of him for the next five years”, expressed the outgoing mayor Yiannis Sendeles “Dear Nikos, your self-governing experience is definitely a very important resource for you. Your love for the place where you grew up, where you and your family live, your passion for self-government are elements that will add to this experience. His excellent partners, both the newly elected members of the municipal council and the others, as well as the services of the Municipality that you know very well, will also help you. I am confident of your plans. I wish that they will be realized and at the end of these five years we will all see wonderful things done”, he emphasized, while addressing the newly elected he urged them to be happy and honor their office with their participation. “No vacancies on the benches”, he noted, calling on the citizens to stand by the municipal rulers in good faith.
“We are sure, mayor, that you have plans for this place and we will work together to implement them”, stressed the deputy governor of Epirus Ilias Gartzonikas, adding that “this difficult, but beautiful place gave birth to very strong people, who, what they set their minds to, they achieved.
The President of the Hellenic Parliament Konstantinos Tassoulas and the Ioannina MP of PASOK – KINAL Yiannis Tsimaris wished every success in the work of the new municipal authority through letters.
The opposition
The assurance that he will carry out his duties in the opposition in a constructive spirit was provided by the head of the “Open Horizons” faction Lambros Tragoudaras, characterizing Nikos Vaitsis as a worthy mayor. “We will make an honest and correct opposition, Where necessary, we will be partners, and where required, we will be opposite”, he noted.
Congratulations to all those who were elected, the head of the “Northern Tzoumerka People’s Rally” faction, Leonidas Leontaris, who took a political oath and pledged to fight at all levels, which is what is required, as, as he characteristically stated, “we are in a crossroads, which will have difficulties”.