Kulbergs: First month as PM reveals bureaucratic 'pollution' in Latvia's government
Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs says his first month in office was dominated by micromanagement and trivial issues, leaving little time for strategic goals, and pledges a more rational leadership style.
In an interview marking his first month as Latvia's Prime Minister, Andris Kulbergs described the biggest challenge as managing time and battling bureaucratic 'pollution'. He noted that too many minor operational matters end up on the Cabinet's agenda, which should be handled by senior civil servants. This, he said, leaves insufficient time for strategic priorities outlined in the coalition declaration.
Kulbergs emphasized his leadership style as unconventional—focused on rationality and results. He criticized the common practice of 'taking note' of reports, calling it a waste of time. The PM admitted that many of the ambitious promises in the coalition agreement may not be fulfilled before the next election, but he hopes to continue if his party wins.
Among concrete achievements, Kulbergs highlighted the anti-drone system on the border with Russia and Belarus, led by Defense Minister Raivis Melnis—who will not run in the next election. Melnis resolved a year-old problem in two weeks, ensuring 100% border coverage. Additionally, the government scrapped the previous shelter program (509 projects, only one completed) and plans to install simple concrete shelters produced by a Latvian company.
Kulbergs acknowledged initial concerns about his ministerial team, especially after receiving overly long and vague presentations for a cabinet retreat. However, after discussions, the subsequent meeting showed improvement. He urged a shift away from micromanagement and called for delegating responsibility to civil servants so the government can focus on key issues.
