“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 the rulers will say: “Blame those before.” 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
What key challenges does Audrius Petrošius believe are hindering progress in Klaipėda’s local government projects?
**Interview with Seimas Member Audrius Petrošius on Klaipėda’s Political Landscape**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Petrošius. Your recent comments about the direction of the Klaipėda ruling committee ”Ištikimi Klaipėda” have sparked a lot of discussions. You mentioned that “the handbrake is closed.” Could you elaborate on what you mean by that?
**Audrius Petrošius:** Thank you for having me. When I said “the handbrake is closed,” I was referring to the stagnation in our local government projects. The decision to halt the construction of the new Jūrininkai polyclinic, along with other previously approved initiatives, has created a significant obstacle for our community. It feels like progress has been deliberately halted, which is frustrating for both residents and those of us actively involved in governance.
**Interviewer:** You’ve faced criticism after losing to Mayor Arvydas Vaitkus in the recent mayoral elections. How do you respond to the criticisms regarding your proposals?
**Audrius Petrošius:** Losing is always difficult, but it’s crucial for me to focus on the issues rather than personal attacks. My proposals were meant to address the community’s needs efficiently. Unfortunately, the current administration seems more interested in revisiting old projects instead of moving forward with new ones, which I believe is a step backward.
**Interviewer:** Council member Andrius Dobranskis highlighted that only about 80% of planned funds have been utilized so far this year. What are your thoughts on this financial underperformance?
**Audrius Petrošius:** That statistic is indeed alarming. It raises critical questions about fiscal responsibility and efficiency within the administration. If we have funds that are not being used effectively, it shows a lack of planning or perhaps an inability to execute approved projects. The failure to utilize these funds could severely impact our city’s development and services.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned that other significant projects, such as the design of the bicycle path at Giruliai and the concession of the sports complex, are also being stalled. What do you think is the underlying cause of these delays?
**Audrius Petrošius:** The delays appear to stem from an aversion to change and a reliance on historical projects that may no longer meet the current needs of our community. There seems to be a hesitance to embrace innovation or new ideas, combined with a tendency to default to blaming past administrations for present issues. We need to focus on immediate solutions rather than getting caught in a cycle of blame.
**Interviewer:** How do you foresee this situation evolving in the near future?
**Audrius Petrošius:** I expect there will be discussions and perhaps a lot of finger-pointing as administration members present their explanations for why projects are stalled. However, the crucial test will be whether they can shift from excuses to action and actually begin implementing the strategic plans that were approved. We’re watching closely, and I hope to see significant changes soon for the benefit of Klaipėda.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your insights, Mr. Petrošius. Your perspective on these local issues is highly appreciated.
**Audrius Petrošius:** Thank you for having me. It’s vital that we continue this dialog for the betterment of our community.