“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.
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 issue of underutilization of funds within the local government and ensure accountability among officials?
**Interview with Audrius Petrošius, Seimas Member and Representative of “Ištikimi Klaipėda”**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Petrošius. Let’s start with your recent comments regarding the direction of the ruling election committee “Ištikimi Klaipėda.” You mentioned that “the handbrake is closed.” Can you elaborate on what you meant by that?
**Audrius Petrošius:** Thank you for having me. When I said “the handbrake is closed,” I was expressing my concerns about the stagnation and lack of progress in our current governance. There are several projects that were promised to the citizens of Klaipėda that have been halted or are moving at a glacial pace, such as the new Jūrininkai polyclinic and the bicycle path development at Giruliai. This indicates a serious issue with how resources are managed and how priorities are set.
**Interviewer:** Your criticism stems from recent decisions to stop the construction of the new polyclinic. What are your views on this change in direction, and what implications do you see for the community?
**Audrius Petrošius:** The decision to stop the construction of the new Jūrininkai polyclinic is concerning. The community has been waiting for this facility, and instead, we are now looking at reconstructing an old building that may not adequately serve our growing population’s needs. This change reflects a broader pattern where crucial health and infrastructure projects are being sidelined, which ultimately affects citizens’ well-being and trust in local government.
**Interviewer:** There have been criticisms about the underutilization of funds; reports indicate that only 80% of the allocated budget has been used in the past six months. How do you view this issue?
**Audrius Petrošius:** This is indeed alarming. We need to ask hard questions about why we are not utilizing our resources effectively. If we had a strategic plan that has not been executed, it’s a sign that something is fundamentally wrong with our governance. The Finance and Economy Committee’s upcoming meeting where administration officials will be questioned is crucial. It’s essential to hold those in power accountable, not just for unspent funds, but for the overall impact on our community.
**Interviewer:** You hinted at potential blame-shifting within the council. Can you share more about what you foresee in the political climate?
**Audrius Petrošius:** I’ve seen this pattern before—when issues arise, there is often an attempt by those in power to deflect responsibility by blaming previous administrations. While it’s important to learn from the past, the focus should be on solutions and accountability now. We must foster a culture of responsibility rather than finger-pointing if we want to regain public trust and effectively serve our constituents.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Mr. Petrošius, for your insights. It’s clear that the issues surrounding governance and project implementation in Klaipėda are complex and require urgent attention.
**Audrius Petrošius:** It’s been my pleasure. I hope to see active engagement from all council members to prioritise the needs of our community moving forward.