Following the government’s recent “restart”, there are now fewer scandals and more pragmatic work being done, Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (New Unity) said in an interview with Latvian Television’s “Rīta Panorāma”.
When asked about the impact of the ministerial changes, Siliņa praised the new ministers. She believes that the new Minister of Education, Dace Melbārde (New Unity), is making steady progress in addressing long-standing issues. The new Minister of Transport, Atis Švinka (Progressives), is applying his business experience to pragmatically solve challenges. Positive feedback has also been received about the new Minister of Welfare, Reinis Uzulnieks (Union of Greens and Farmers).
Overall, the government’s work has become more pragmatic — “which is what everyone needs,” Siliņa noted.
The government is also actively working to reduce bureaucracy, aiming to accelerate various processes and, in doing so, save public funds
More budget resources are needed for national defence, and the government is exploring various ways to increase funding. This includes cutting expenditures, increasing revenues, and restructuring existing finances, the Prime Minister explained. The government is considering possible exemptions from budget deficit rules as well as using European mechanisms to boost defence funding.