“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 are Audrius Petrošius’s main concerns regarding the stalled projects in Klaipėda, such as the new Jūrininkai polyclinic and the bike path at Giruliai?
**Interview with Audrius Petrošius, Member of the Seimas**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Petrošius. You’ve recently made headlines with your comments about the direction of the ruling election committee “Ištikimi Klaipėda.” Can you explain what you meant by saying ”the handbrake is closed”?
**Audrius Petrošius:** Thank you for having me. By saying “the handbrake is closed,” I was referring to what I perceive as a halt in progress regarding important projects in Klaipėda. Specifically, the recent decision to stop the construction of the new Jūrininkai polyclinic has raised concerns. This kind of stagnation is detrimental to our community’s health and wellbeing, especially when we have a pressing need for improved medical facilities.
**Interviewer:** There’s been criticism aimed at your committee’s handling of various projects, including the design of a bike path at Giruliai and the concession of a sports complex. Why do you believe these projects are now being stalled?
**Audrius Petrošius:** Those projects have been halted due to shifting political priorities within the council, which I find troubling. When projects are approved, there should be a commitment to see them through. Instead, it appears that we are witnessing a political maneuvering for reasons that may have more to do with appeasing certain factions than with serving the public good.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned that only about 80% of the funds allocated by the council have been utilized in the past six months. Why do you think that is?
**Audrius Petrošius:** That raises alarm bells. The council had already approved a strategic plan which relies on those funds being used effectively. If we’re only utilizing a fraction of what is available, it indicates mismanagement and inefficiency. I anticipate that when the Finance and Economy Committee meets to discuss this, those in power might deflect the blame onto the previous administration, which is a classic political tactic.
**Interviewer:** Speaking of blame, how do you anticipate the council will respond to these financial issues in the upcoming meetings?
**Audrius Petrošius:** I’m concerned that we won’t receive constructive answers. Instead of taking ownership of the failures, I expect we’ll hear excuses about past administrations hindering progress. The lack of accountability undermines our government’s ability to function effectively. We need to focus on solutions rather than shifting blame.
**Interviewer:** As a final thought, what do you hope can be achieved in the near future for the city of Klaipėda?
**Audrius Petrošius:** I hope we can restore a sense of urgency and responsibility in our council. It’s essential that we prioritize community needs such as healthcare and recreational projects, moving forward rather than backward. Collaboration across all political lines is crucial for the development of our city.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Mr. Petrošius, for sharing your insights. We look forward to seeing how these issues unfold in the coming weeks.
**Audrius Petrošius:** Thank you for having me. It’s always a pleasure to discuss these important issues affecting our community.