“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 the projects that were previously given the green light, but now they are being stopped: this includes the design of the bike 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 act. 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 prompted Audrius Petrošius to describe the ruling election committee “Ištikimi Klaipėda” as being on a “closed handbrake”?
**Interview with Seimas Member Audrius Petrošius**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Audrius. Your statement about the ruling election committee “Ištikimi Klaipėda” being on a “closed handbrake” has raised eyebrows. Can you expand on what you mean by that?
**Audrius Petrošius:** Thank you for having me. When I refer to the “closed handbrake,” I’m highlighting a stagnation in progress and decision-making within our local government. Since the recent elections, it feels as though we’ve hit a standstill, stalling vital projects and initiatives that our community desperately needs.
**Editor:** Speaking of stalled projects, you’ve come under fire for proposing to halt the construction of the new Jūrininkai polyclinic in favor of reconstructing the existing polyclinic on Taikos Avenue. What was the rationale behind this decision?
**Audrius Petrošius:** Our priority should be pragmatism. The existing polyclinic has the potential for improvement without the need for new construction, which can be a lengthy and costly process. However, I acknowledge that this decision has its critics, particularly those who feel we should pursue new facilities. It’s about what aligns best with our community’s immediate healthcare needs.
**Editor:** Critics, including council member Andrius Dobranskis, have also pointed out that only about 80% of the allocated funds were utilized in the first half of the year. How do you respond to those concerns?
**Audrius Petrošius:** That’s a valid concern. It indicates we’re falling behind our strategic plan and clearly needs to be addressed. We must ensure these funds are used effectively to support the necessary projects our city has approved. I believe transparency and accountability are paramount, and we will be reviewing the reasons for the underutilization.
**Editor:** You mentioned that this issue will be discussed in the Finance and Economy Committee next week. What can we expect in terms of accountability from the current administration?
**Audrius Petrošius:** The administration will have to provide a clear explanation for the financial shortfalls. We anticipate that political blame games will surface, but it’s crucial we focus on solutions rather than finger-pointing. Our constituents deserve better, and we must work towards enacting a productive and responsive governance model.
**Editor:** Thank you, Audrius. It seems there are many challenges ahead for Klaipėda. What will be your focus moving forward?
**Audrius Petrošius:** I’ll continue advocating for projects that cater to the public’s needs, pushing for effective use of resources, and criticizing any decisions that seem to stall our city’s growth. Our focus should be on constructive dialog that leads to real progress for our residents. Thank you for the discussion.
**Editor:** Thank you for your insights today. We’ll continue to follow these developments closely.
