In his new post as General Secretariat of the Aegean and Island Policy and in his resignation from the Municipality of Leipzig Fotis Mangos was mentioned with his posting on his personal Facebook account.
As he says his resignation was "accepted today by the Secretary General of the Decentralized Aegean Administration", while stressing that "she was perhaps the hardest and most painful of my life".
"I would like to make a warm request to all our citizens: to support with the same love, trust and the same willingness to cooperate with the new Mayor or the new Mayor," notes Light Mangos, who was in The city's steering wheel for the last 12 years.
In detail his post:
"Dear fellow citizens, dear fellow citizens,
Yesterday I submitted my resignation from the position of Mayor Lipses., which was today accepted by the Secretary General of the Decentralized Aegean Administration, in order to take office as Secretary-General of the Aegean and Island Policy, on the proposal of the Minister of Shipping and Island Policy Vasilis Kikilia, who was immediately accepted by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
The moment I was called to answer this proposal was perhaps the most difficult and painful of my life. Within a few years I had to weigh, on the one hand, the extremely honorable proposal made to me and which is a recognition of the great work done to the Lips in the last twelve years, and, on the other hand, the decision to separate the place where I was born, raised and dedicated every piece of my strength.
This proposal is not just about my face. I consider it a recognition of the collective effort of an entire island. Recognition of the projects carried out, the dozens of interventions already under way and will continue to change the Lips for the next few years. Above all, however, I consider it an opportunity to hear even louder the voice of small islands and self-government within the government, from a man who knows firsthand their difficulties, needs and anxieties.
I'm not hiding from you that the first few hours after my decision was made public were particularly charged. Many rushed to congratulate me and rejoice over this new challenge. Others felt, and rightly so, that I was leaving the island at a critical moment. Some felt both at the same time.
I can honestly tell you that I understand all these thoughts and all those feelings. After all, the exact same feelings went through my mind. In my final decision, however, the belief that I have to take this opportunity to offer at a wider level, representing our islands and transferring the experience of self-government where critical decisions are made was more important.
I want to thank the people of Lips for the trust they have shown me over the years. Without your support, nothing we've achieved would have happened. The love I have received these days has moved me deeply and may be the greatest reward of my course.
I also thank my associates, the city councillors of all the offices with which we joined, but mainly the workers of the Municipality of Lipsi. Despite major staff shortages, we have all managed together to create a municipality that stood out for efficiency, speed in handling cases and the successful use of any available financial instrument.
In the next few days all the procedures will be initiated for the election of the new or new Mayor of Lipsi. My concern in this transitional period is to make the best possible information on any issues under way: for projects implemented or launched, for funding, studies, partnerships and actions relating to the present and future of our island.
I want the next or the next Mayor to know that my experience, knowledge and love of the place will always be at his/her disposal. After all, my weaning from this position and from the Lips will never happen. The Lips will always be in my heart and mind, because there are certain things that simply never change.
At the same time, I would like to make a warm request to all our citizens: to support the young or the new Mayor with the same love, trust and the same willingness to cooperate. The work he undertakes is particularly demanding and especially during the first period he will need the support of all of us to continue seamlessly the long progress we have made for our island.
I'm sure he'll make it. And I am sure that we will all succeed together, because above persons and offices is always our common goal: the progress of the Lipses, the well-being of their inhabitants and the advancement of our country.
From my new position I won't make any promises. Those who know me know that I always preferred the results to words. But I can commit that the same characteristics that have guided my course to date — labour, perseverance, consistency and efficiency — will continue to govern all my actions as Secretary-General of the Aegean and Island Policy.
I would also like to assure all our fellow mayors of our islands that I am well aware of the difficulties they face daily. I know what problems can be expected and which require immediate solutions. The real pain of island societies will also be my pain and will be a guide to my action.
Finally, I feel the need to apologise to those who may have been wronged in the performance of my duties. It is certain that mistakes and omissions were made on a long route. But I want you to know that there has never been any intention or expediency behind them.
I am fully aware that my decision involves personal risk. I leave a relationship of trust and love built over the years in Lips and enter a new, demanding and largely unknown environment. However, I believed that the moment required courage and responsibility.
I hope that this choice will justify the expectations of those who trusted me and prove useful to our islands and our country. It was the Lips, it is and will remain my home. Our relationship doesn't end today. It just goes on from a different post.
Thank you for everything.
With deep appreciation, FM".