“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 justify prioritizing the reconstruction of the old Klaipėda polyclinic over the construction of a new facility?
**Interview with Audrius Petrošius: Reflections on Klaipėda’s Political Direction**
*Interviewer:* Thank you for joining us today, Audrius. You’ve recently made headlines with your statement that “the handbrake is closed” regarding the direction of the ruling election committee, “Ištikimi Klaipėda.” 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 concern about the stagnation in important infrastructure projects that were previously set in motion. We seem to be halting progress, particularly after the election, which is troubling for our community’s development.
*Interviewer:* You faced criticism for plans to stop the new Jūrininkai polyclinic construction. Could you explain the reasoning behind your decision to reconstruct the old Klaipėda polyclinic instead?
*Audrius Petrošius:* The decision to shift focus from building a new clinic to reconstructing the existing one was based on economic considerations and an assessment of immediate community needs. While some may see it as a setback, I believe it’s essential to prioritize effective use of resources to serve our citizens better. However, I acknowledge that it’s sparked debate and controversy.
*Interviewer:* Your critics have pointed out that several previously approved projects, like the bike path at Giruliai and the access to Giruliai beach, are now halted. What’s your response to these concerns?
*Audrius Petrošius:* The opposition’s remarks reflect a misunderstanding of our current financial priorities. We must ensure that our funding is used efficiently. If these projects are deemed essential, we will revisit them. Nonetheless, it’s crucial to stabilize our financial situation before pushing forward with costly plans.
*Interviewer:* Council member Andrius Dobranskis has raised concerns about the underutilization of funds, only around 80% being used in the first half of the year. How do you plan to address this issue?
*Audrius Petrošius:* I share his concerns, and that’s why we’ll be inviting administration officials for explanations. It’s vital to hold our team accountable and ensure we’re making the most of our budget. I expect this dialog will yield productive outcomes and establish a clearer path forward.
*Interviewer:* Looking ahead, what are your main priorities for Klaipėda’s future successes?
*Audrius Petrošius:* Our immediate focus will be on repairing our community’s trust and ensuring that funds are used wisely. I also believe we need to prioritize strategic developments that align with our long-term vision for Klaipėda, which includes sustainable infrastructure and better healthcare facilities.
*Interviewer:* Thank you, Audrius, for your insights. It will be interesting to see how these challenges unfold in the coming months.
*Audrius Petrošius:* Thank you for having me. I hope to keep the dialog open as we work towards a better Klaipėda.
