Prountzos says municipalities are here to serve the citizens

The newly appointed Mayor of Nicosia, Charalambos Prountzos, expressed strong confidence in the success of local government reform during the mayoral handover ceremony. Prountzos emphasized the commitment to making this reform work, aiming to instill a sense of security among employees and inspire them to improve the municipality.

Prountzos underscored the role of municipalities as servants of the citizens, stating his goal to prioritize citizens and offer them services at a calculated cost. He plans to visit all services of the new Nicosia Municipality, highlighting the unique challenge of consolidating services and unifying the four major urban municipalities—Engomi, Agios Dometios, Aglantzia, and Nicosia.

He hailed the reform's implementation as a significant breakthrough for local governance in Cyprus, with the potential to enhance service delivery and create sustainable, efficient structures. Prountzos noted Nicosia's historical and multicultural significance, stressing the importance of addressing its status as Europe's last divided capital.

Acknowledging the burden of Nicosia's historical context and the reform, Prountzos called for unity to develop a balanced, developmentally united municipality. He expressed readiness to collaborate with deputy mayors and the city council, confident in their collective ability to achieve results.

Prountzos, not affiliated with any political party, sees his broad support as a strength, allowing him to focus on the reform without partisan dependencies. He praised outgoing Mayor Constantinos Yiorkadjis for laying the groundwork for a modern, European Nicosia and committed to building on this foundation.

Outgoing Mayor Yiorkadjis highlighted the major challenges ahead, particularly the integration of citizens and workers from the merged municipalities. He stressed the importance of economies of scale for the new municipality's financial stability and the completion of €54 million in ongoing projects and €61 million in planned projects.

Yiorkadjis urged harmonious and efficient cooperation within the municipality to secure funding amidst intense competition. He expressed pride in leaving the city in a better state and thanked the council and municipal service members for their dedication.

The outgoing mayors of Engomi, Agios Dometios, and Aglantzia expressed hope that Nicosia will demonstrate the success of the Local Government Reform, achieving its goals for the benefit of all citizens.