If someone needs me, it is known where to find me - Repše acknowledged past mistakes 0 8

When the conversation turned to the 1990s and the question arose about what could have been done differently, Repše gave answers that can certainly be called self-critical. He believes that more should have been done to stimulate the development of the national industry. More production, especially in the food industry, should have been kept in the hands of Latvians. This, however, slightly contradicts his then-belief that the free market would sort everything out without state intervention, which is what the governments relied on when they abruptly implemented capitalism.

Repše considers the privatization certificates to be a mistake - the idea was good, but the outcome was poor. "Initially, some managed to ensure that nothing could be purchased for the certificates; they were worthless. Then these same people massively bought them up, and as a result, valuable privatization assets appeared. This allowed for the concentration of great wealth in the hands of a few, creating local oligarchs," he stated.

The interview also touched on the collapse of the Baltija bank. The former prime minister acknowledged that this was the price of the decision to create a local banking sector (and not just branches of foreign banks), as well as a result of a lack of experience and dishonesty: "If you look in the rearview mirror, everyone is smart."

Speaking about current politics, Repše criticizes it cautiously, as he considers those in power now to be his "political grandchildren." "New Unity" grew out of the party "New Era" that he founded, and the National Alliance is the successor to the DNNL, which Repše co-founded with Eduards Berklavs.

Repše believes that the parliament reflects society, so he is more focused on proposing ideas, as the lack of ideas for transformation and growth is evident: "We are too caught up in the everyday and forget about the great questions."

He also offered advice on how to arrange Latvia. Repše, in particular, suggests setting national goals for Latvia for the next decade, citing the U.S. Moon program under Kennedy as an example: such goals mobilize.

The former prime minister has many ideas. In particular, he proposes announcing a state competition with a large prize for the private sector - for example, for the development of anti-drone swarm technologies, which would be a well-exportable product. In education - to set the goal of creating nothing less than the best education system in the Baltic countries or even in Europe, reorienting it according to changes brought about by the development of AI. In energy - to provide all consumers with cheap electricity.

To achieve these great goals, changes in the organization of government work are necessary. Currently, in Repše's opinion, the Cabinet's agenda consists of dozens of minor details and technical corrections, and ministers are unable to delve into all of this, so they vote mechanically. Instead, two or three conceptual issues should be considered at government meetings, which ministers could properly explore. This practice, according to the former prime minister, has been implemented in Estonia. In Latvia, however, instead of big questions, trivial matters dominate - for example, disputes about the Istanbul Convention, although there are many much more important issues.

Repše shared that he had offered his ideas to statesmen, but after words of gratitude, there was usually silence instead of a response. When asked if he was ready to return to politics, he replied: "I don’t want to be like a bride who imposes herself on everyone. But if someone needs me, it is known where to find me."