“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 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
**Interview with Audrius Petrošius, Seimas Member**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Petrošius. Following the recent mayoral elections, you were quoted saying, “The handbrake is closed” with respect to the direction of the ruling election committee “Ištikimi Klaipėda.” Can you explain what you meant by that?
**Audrius Petrošius:** Certainly. What I meant is that we are seeing a significant slowdown in our initiatives. The decision to halt the construction of the new Jūrininkai polyclinic in favor of reconstructing the old one reflects a broader trend of stagnation in our plans. We have projects that were previously approved, like the bicycle path at Giruliai and the sports complex concession, which are now being stalled.
**Interviewer:** That sounds quite concerning. You faced criticism after losing to Arvydas Vaitkus in the elections. Do you think these stalled projects impacted your campaign?
**Audrius Petrošius:** It’s possible. Voters want to see progress and proactive governance. When we start seeing projects that could improve our community being put on hold, it creates frustration. The response from the opposition, including council member Andrius Dobranskis, highlights that only about 80% of allocated funds have been utilized. This lack of action can certainly be a factor that influences public sentiment.
**Interviewer:** Dobranskis also mentioned upcoming scrutiny from the Finance and Economy Committee regarding these unutilized funds. What do you anticipate will be the response?
**Audrius Petrošius:** I expect that there will be some finger-pointing. The establishment tends to lay blame on previous administrations rather than addressing current failures. This habit of shifting responsibility won’t help our city move forward. Instead, we need constructive dialog and a commitment to executing the plans we set forth.
**Interviewer:** In your view, what should be the top priority for the Klaipėda city council moving forward?
**Audrius Petrošius:** Our top priority should be to revive suspended projects and re-establish a clear vision for the city’s development. We need to ensure that available funds are used effectively and that investments align with the needs of our community. This includes revamping infrastructure, improving public services like healthcare, and enhancing mobility options such as bike paths.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your insights, Mr. Petrošius. It seems there’s a lot at stake for Klaipėda in the coming months.
**Audrius Petrošius:** Thank you for having me. Yes, indeed, it will be crucial for all involved to collaborate and prioritize the community’s needs.