In an interview as part of the discussion cycle "Latvia 2035," former Latvian president Andris Berzinsh sharply criticizes the Latvian bureaucratic apparatus, emphasizing that the state is oversaturated with unnecessary systems that hinder development.
Andris Berzinsh believes that the current situation, where there is one Latvian for every thousand smart-headed Chinese, requires much more effective management; however, instead, Latvia functions as a state with systems through which it is almost impossible to move forward.
"We have become a country that started living off projects rather than business. The main goal is to find a project, obtain funding, while the result remains secondary," says Berzinsh.
Entrepreneurs are not robbers
The former president is particularly harsh about the processes in the financial sector, pointing out that the so-called capital repair and the anti-money laundering law were foolishness created by people who do not understand the structure of the economy. "Latvia tried to create the strictest legislation in the world, but it is asymmetrical to the real situation and kills mutual trust among people, forcing entrepreneurs to constantly prove that they are not robbers." Berzinsh acknowledges that such an approach has led to economic "suicide."
"When I was the chairman of the executive committee of the Valmiera district, I could discuss almost every day with specific people what was happening in industry, what was happening in agriculture, and this gave me a good understanding of reality. Now there is a feeling that the authorities are doing one thing, business is doing another, and in between are the people - neither here nor there."
It is necessary to change the political and bureaucratic system
In the long term, Berzinsh sees the need for radical changes in the system, as reducing bureaucracy usually only affects janitors or cleaners, not the real management burden. He calls for a review of the entire system - from the Satversme to the number of parties, emphasizing that the existence of more than 50 parties is an impossible environment for making reasonable decisions.
The former president believes that Latvia needs to find a logical management model based on education and the ability to conquer the world with intellect, as in 20 years the world will be completely different, and action must be taken without delay.
