In the TV24 program "Kārtības rullis," Ombudsman Karina Palkova explained how she believes bureaucracy is formed in public administration, emphasizing that its essence is often related to the lack of interest among workers and the absence of responsibility, reports LA.LV.
According to Palkova, the main reason for bureaucracy is the inability or unwillingness of specific individuals to fulfill their duties.
"It seems to me that bureaucracy arises when someone in each institution does not do their job. Then another institution takes on the responsibility, does the work for others, and so on. This is the failure to perform one’s work. This is absolute bureaucracy," noted Palkova.
The Ombudsman emphasized that the goal of institutions is to provide quality services to residents, especially those in more vulnerable positions: "As for what the work of an institution should be, it seems to me that an institution is a quality service. Just as the Ombudsman’s office should provide quality service, so should the Prosecutor General’s Office, because we work for the benefit of the people. Why is public administration needed at all? To provide support to a person who is in a weaker position. It is a tool for support, but at some point, we understood it differently and began, on the contrary, to tell a person what and how they should do things."
Palkova emphasized that public administration employees are a service sector for people, and the volume of bureaucracy will decrease if each employee takes responsibility and human rights are perceived as a priority. "We are a service sector for the person. But at the moment when each of our employees, we accept this ourselves, respect will emerge, and human rights will be at the center – there will be less bureaucracy," explained the Ombudsman.
