Back in the tenebrous times of Brezhnev, writer Kašauskas wrote – and the Soviet censorship somehow let it through – a story about “Petras (First Secretary of the Lithuanian Communist Party at the time was Petras Griškevičius) who lives in Turniškės (upmarket neighbourhood in Vilnius housing residences of many state leaders) and hasn't seen a bus ticket.”
Three decades later, the capital city of free Lithuania is run by a mayor who lives in Užupis, rides expensive modern Segways, but still stumbles upon problems with bus tickets.
Even though Vilnius authorities have had more than enough time to install the electronic ticket system, the so-called Vilnian Card is a complete fiasco. A fact even more appalling because Kaunas has had the system up and running for some time now and without much pomp.
Zuokas and his “Taip” movement is slowly approaching a decline.
This has been happening increasingly often to Zuokas' “Taip” movement. The former liberal has been making increasingly socialist and loud-mouth decisions – abolishing minibuses, waging war against dishonest taxis, making empty promises of setting up a “good” municipal taxi company.
Even though Mayor Zuokas has loudly expressed concern that the Lithuanian nation might end up without a choice during presidential election and even promised to establish a Lithuanian airline, he himself seems to be moving backwards – like when he revoked a public transport regulation by the previous mayor to mount a bus through front door, something that has been proven financially sound in Kaunas and Klaipėda. In this case, there is no one else to blame – neither Finance Minister Šimonytė or PM Kubilius for maliciously denying financing for Vilnius nor President Grybauskaitė for her authoritarian tendencies.
There is, if you will, a comic discrepancy between stated goals of “Taip” and its real actions.
While young Vilnians are calling a rally to denounce the public transport chaos caused by the municipality, the “Taip” programme proclaims to be building “the most modern city in Central and Eastern Europe, an international business, science, and culture centre,” encouraging “rational investment aimed at improving the quality of life and transportation.” Zuokas promised that Vilnians would soon be earning 6,400 litas in average wages. That the city would sport its own airline, “Vilnius Air.” And a necessary precondition for all these wonders was a “professional and efficient city administration.”
Efficient my foot. If Vilnian Cards – or holes in the streets – give any indication of the “professionalism and efficiency” of setting up Zuokas' airlines, I'd better fly to Brussels via Tallinn.
Much PR babble and little action to actually improve life in the capital city. Just like in the old joke about the Soviet economy – the steam is just enough to blow the whistle.
Zuokas and his “Taip” movement is slowly approaching a decline which is possible even in Lithuania where people are inclined to believe any nonsensical promises made “as a joke.” And this is the same Zuokas to whom the more modern section of young Vilnians once organized a support rally via internet – the first event of this kind in the country.
