“The handbrake is closed”, – this is how Seimas member Audrius Petrošius responded about the direction of the ruling election committee “Ištikimi Klaipėda“.
In the second round of the mayoral elections, the member of the Seimas, who lost quite strongly to Arvydas Vaitkas, was criticized after making public the plans to stop the construction of the new Jūrininkai polyclinic on Birutė street. Instead, the old Klaipėda city polyclinic building on Taikos avenue will be reconstructed. The member of the Seimas and the politicians working in the opposition in the council named projects that were previously given the green light, but now they are being stopped: this includes the design of the bicycle path at Giruliai, the concession of the sports complex, and the reconstruction of the access to the Giruliai beach.
Council member conservative Andrius Dobranskis, who was the deputy director of administration in the previous term, says that the fact that only about 80% of the funds were used in half a year is also a cause for concern. planned funds. “The council had approved such a strategic plan. If it is not used, then, generally speaking, we are behind the pace, something is wrong,” said the politician.
This issue is also raised in the Finance and Economy Committee. Administration employees will be invited next week and will have to explain why such a significant sum was not used. “Looking a little ahead, I can see that this music has already started and I know what those in power will say: “The previous ones are to blame.” I foresee this already. This is a classic political move. We watch, we wait, we observe. But for now we don’t see anything good,” said the politician.
Vaitkus” rel=”content-image” src=”https://s1.15min.lt/static/cache/ODgweDU4MCwxMjM0eDMzMiw2MTYxNzgsb3JpZ2luYWwsLGlkPTkwNTI4MjAmZGF0ZT0yMDIzJTJGMDclMkYyMSwzODUyODEzNTU4/dviraciu-tako-atidarymas-64ba7373cba20.jpg” style=”width: auto; height: auto;”/>
Eriko Ovčarenko/BNS photo/Arvydas Vaitkus
At that time, the mayor of Klaipėda, Arvydas Vaitkus, was straightforward: “The principle of today’s government is to finally start counting and rationally use the money of Klaipėda citizens and make decisions based on competence and transparency principles.”
“It is understandable that some people do not like the revision of the projects of the former political government. However, ask the people of Klaipėda how they value the construction of a 4-year school for double the price on Senvagės Street, how the people of Klaipėda value the sale of the plot on Jankaus Street, where a kindergarten and school were supposed to be built”, asked A. Vaitkus rhetorically.
Main points
- Whose money are you saving?
- Conservative Andrius Petraitis missed logic
- Liberal Edmundas Kvederis: “This leads to provincialism”
- Former mayor, social democrat V. Grubliauskas: “The trend is becoming clearer”
- Arvydas Vaitkus: “There is no solution not to build”
- Those in power raise questions about transparency
#Province #rationality #direction #Klaipėda
How does Audrius Petrošius plan to address the concerns about underutilization of funds within the Klaipėda city projects, and what steps will be taken to ensure better resource management?
**Interview with Audrius Petrošius, Seimas Member**
*Interviewer:* Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Petrošius. Let’s start with your recent comments about the ruling election committee “Ištikimi Klaipėda.” You mentioned that ”the handbrake is closed.” Can you clarify what you meant by that?
*Audrius Petrošius:* Thank you for having me. When I stated that “the handbrake is closed,” I was referring to the stagnation in development and decision-making within our coalition. We’re facing significant challenges in moving forward with projects that were previously agreed upon. It’s as though the government has put a halt to important initiatives that our community needs.
*Interviewer:* You’ve been criticized for proposing to halt the construction of the new Jūrininkai polyclinic. What led to that decision?
*Audrius Petrošius:* The decision to stop the construction of the new polyclinic stems from our assessment of the current needs and financial prudence. Instead, we believe that reconstructing the existing Klaipėda city polyclinic on Taikos Avenue will serve our community better without needing to allocate additional funds to a new facility. However, I recognize that this decision has caused a backlash, and we are open to discussions.
*Interviewer:* Several other projects have reportedly been stalled. Can you talk about those projects and their significance?
*Audrius Petrošius:* Certainly. Projects like the design of the bicycle path at Giruliai and the concession of the sports complex were approved with strong support from the community. Stopping these projects negatively impacts not just our infrastructure but also the quality of life for our citizens. It’s disappointing to see these initiatives sidelined, especially when they were meant to promote sustainability and public health.
*Interviewer:* And what are your thoughts on the concerns raised by Council Member Andrius Dobranskis about the underutilization of funds?
*Audrius Petrošius:* Dobranskis raises valid points. If only 80% of our allocated funds are being used six months into the fiscal year, it indicates a serious issue with planning or execution. We’re tasked with being stewards of public funds, and any underutilization can signal inefficiency in government operations that needs immediate addressing.
*Interviewer:* Given this situation, what do you foresee happening in the coming weeks?
*Audrius Petrošius:* I anticipate that there will be discussions in the Finance and Economy Committee regarding fund usage, with administration staff being called to explain the shortfall. I can already predict political finger-pointing; however, the focus should remain on solutions rather than assigning blame. Our responsibility is to the citizens, and we must ensure that their needs are met promptly and effectively.
*Interviewer:* Thank you for your insights, Mr. Petrošius. We appreciate your time.
*Audrius Petrošius:* Thank you for having me. Let’s hope for a constructive path forward.
