The government talks about austerity, but civil servants’ bonuses are rising. In the public sector, wages once again surpassed those in the private sector last year, and civil servants are generously awarded bonuses. Why is it that the government promises and talks about one thing but in reality, we see something completely different? Who is actually steering Latvia’s ship – political power or the bureaucracy? BNN asks Filip Rajevskis, co-owner of the company “Mediju tilts” and a political scientist.
At the moment, there is a real sense that, essentially, power has drifted away from the Cabinet, says Filip Rajevskis. “If the political leadership decides one thing [about limiting state administration spending] but in reality, something else happens, it means that the power is somewhere else, and the Cabinet has lost its ability to implement these decisions,” explains the political scientist. He emphasizes that true power lies in the ability to implement decisions in practice. “So far, it looks like decisions are being made, but they are not being realized in real life. This is a certain moment of power impotence.”
Asked whether real power might have shifted to the bureaucracy, Rajevskis confirms this. “If you can disregard political decisions, then those who do not implement them are also disrespecting political power.” The political scientist notes that for political power to regain its footing, those in power need to use all political resources and instruments to ensure that decisions are implemented. “They already have all the administrative resources to use the full force of the law against those who fail to implement state decisions.”
Prime Minister Evika Siliņa has announced a 25% reduction in bureaucracy. A special task force has been set up to achieve this goal. Will bureaucracy really be reduced, considering both the bureaucratic burden and the number of bureaucrats in state and municipal institutions? Filip Rajevskis is sceptical.
“If it was announced that civil servants’ wages would not increase, but they still did, then where has it been said that these other steps will actually happen?”