Government's actions are chaotic instead of strategic crisis management - chief ombudsman

  • 2021-02-01
  • LETA/TBT Staff

RIGA - There is no strategic analysis or strategic management in Latvia right now - instead the government is acting chaotically from statistical data to new statistical data, said Chief Ombudsman Juris Jansons in an interview with Diena daily, speaking about decisions in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said that when making decisions about today, it should not be forgotten what their long-term impact will be. "It is clear that there is a virus, it is spreading, incidence is not dropping, of course, there is high mortality, and it means that health care should be the priority," said Jansons, adding that the prime minister has the highest responsibility for efficiency of the situation management.

Jansons is concerned about the long-term impact of restrictions in education. Pupils cannot socialize at the age when socialization is very important. "It is a trauma in children's development. Not to speak about gaps in their knowledge as teachers may not make sure whether all children are following the study process.

The ombudsman believes that the social security system has demonstrated during the crisis that it is not acting in the interest of people, but in its own interest. "Something is being paid, there is some support, but when people face actual problems, have to pay bills, cover their everyday costs, a large part of Latvian residents have huge problems," he said.

"We had a year, we had some experience in spring, after which there were discussions about the second wave," said the ombudsman, adding that no actual steps were taken to get prepared for that.