Partying the way not only for municipality

Formed self -government

One hundred 1990 Over the five years of their term, the elected deputies, despite the USSR political, economic and even military repression, formed a whole new local self -government by displacing the Soviet system. Kazimieras Starkevičius, the head of the general department in the first term of the deputies, said that Kaunas deputies were the first deputies of Kaunas to remove the Lenin monument standing in the present Unity Square, wisely dealt with issues related to the USSR-declared economic blockade of Lithuania.

“In the event that Lithuania was trying to occupy strategic objects in Kaunas in January, we deputies had planned to swap street names, home numbers, block bridges, dug up Savanoriu Avenue, etc. From the most expensive obligations I have just received, ”recalled Kęstutis Ignatavičius, a deputy of the first term. The only such deputies club in Lithuania was established so far.

Workers’ dowry

Did a lot of those who know what they have initiated and organized the first Kaunas birthday celebration in Kaunas, the staging of the Battle of Grunwald at the Santaka, the impressive Hanseatic Days, the hands on the 80th anniversary of Lithuania’s independence from Kaunas Castle to S. Darius and S. Girėnas Monument Oak or planted 70 oaks on the Nemunas Island, rebuilt Kaunas City Museum?

The impressive ideas and the city would do, his self -government works belongs to Kaunas ceremony, Kęstutis Ignatavičius and, as he always emphasizes, the Deputy Club. By the way, on the occasion of the establishment of the club for the first term of office, Kaunas City Municipality Deputies 1995 planted an oak tree in the city garden, which is still leafing.

It was Kaunas deputies that the first in Eastern Europe decided to remove the Lenin monument standing in the present Unity Square.

City Day Search

Vince Vaidevutė Margevičienė, a member of the Deputies Club, former Vice Mayor of Kaunas City, to the question of the most memorable work she did with the Deputy Club, replied: On July 6, the historic benchmark of Kaunas city coat of arms, the president presented that benchmark Vygintas Grinis at Kaunas Town Hall.

Later, in 2008, the representative coat of arms of the city, the flag and other municipal merchandise were found. However, I personally appreciate the initiatives of K. Ignatavičius and his deputy club he founded and the detailed research conducted with historians, determining the date of the city’s day. ”

According to K. Ignatavičius, who did a report on the activities of the club members in the 30th anniversary, 1998. On December 3, Kaunas City Council, which gathered at the Town Hall for a solemn meeting, announced the city day on May 20. But how did that May 20 find? This was briefly answered by K. Ignatavičius, author of the city’s day idea and its main implementation: “There were many roundtable discussions with historians, a lot of controversy until it finally decided to celebrate the city’s birthday on May 20th. This date was chosen because the Grand Duke of Lithuania The Merchants have been clarified by Prof. Zigmantas.

History: City Day Celebration attracted a lot of curious people. 2007 Photo by K. Ignatavičius Archive

Did not avoid criticism

According to Clement Rimšelis, a former member of the municipal council presidency and vice -chairman of the Council, deputies of the first term worked on a public basis – receiving $ 400 per quarter each. Former chairman of the municipal council V. Grinis recalled the disputes between deputies on various problems.

The former Mayor of Kaunas Vidmantas Adomonis, who spoke at the event, was fiercely criticized by modern self -government, calling it a partocracy in which nepotism was aware of anything to do with the supremacy of law.

« This is how self -government turns into arbitrariness. I want to believe, » said V. Adomonis, « that Kaunas is capable of returning to the values ​​at the beginning of the municipality. » And here, Virginija Ina Bedarfiene applied to K. Starkevicius asking for a request to the Speaker of the Seimas to be stricter. Because the public is angry with the free, disrespectful behavior of members of the Seimas at meetings, when it comes to and comes to the hall at any time, to get into cell phones.

Fittings of a smile

V. Grinis remembered the reception at the Town Hall for the first royal couple from Sweden – Karl XVI Gustav and Queen Silvia. It was the first visit of such high -ranking individuals in Kaunas. « I saw a small spider creeping a small spider in a white tablecloth in the Town Hall. I didn’t know how to behave, but when I noticed the king’s reaction, I calmed down, » he smiled widely, « the first chairman of the city council recalled.

The laughter of the congregation was caused by prof. The episode of Liud Mažylis’ memories from his outing with deputies to a Vekšė (Sweden), where he was presented as a spokesman for Kaunas deputies. Then a spokesman for the Vekšis was presented with the name of Karlson. Lithuanians were laughing and the Swedes could not understand why. When they were explained to them what the name of the baby means Swedish, then the Swedish wave of laughter had already risen – after all, the baby and Carlson met!

At the end of the anniversary event, the head of the Deputies Club and his deputy Raimundas Gaidys congratulated the anniversary, thanked the participants of the event, handing over the coat of arms of Kaunas Deputies Club in the frames and urging him not to abandon the club’s activities.