Sunday, March 15, 2009

Expensive and ineffective government

The Latvian 2009 budget must be slashed by another 1 billion euros in order to receive next tranche from the International Monetary Fund, and avoid bankruptcy by June 2009. While the PM is looking for possibilities to cut expenses several investigative journalists have been looking where is the money really spent in Latvia. TV3 discovered that there are shady schemes created where money for non exiting projects are generated through the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA) with EU funds money squandered. Apparently Arvis Auziņš who was beneficiary of such a scam is the municipal councilor (Union of Greens and Farmer) in Ogre and he also tried to bribe a journalist.

While different scams are engineered for getting access to the EU funds monies, the Latvian civil service remuneration system is still a part of the party political "feudal fiefdoms" system and it causes a lot of bad blood. Legally the civil service should be apolitical, however it is long known that civil service does not act as a corporate entity in Latvia, that would act independently from whims of political parties. The system of remuneration in civil service is having similarly shady rules to the system of salaries in the State Enterprises boards, which served as a prime generators for monies into the political party coffers. Now most of the State Enterprise boards are liquidated, but the political party financing from the state budget has not replaced the old system yet.

The law introducing party financing from the state budget and the mandatory tax and property declaration system should be the major agenda for the present parliament. Without these two laws it is impossible to introduce the principles of transparency especially during times when there is increasing public awareness bout it. During times of global financial and economic crisis, which affects all countries participating in the era of global flows of goods, finance and ideas, particularly those countries with ineffective government are affected the most severe way and we may witness it very strongly in Latvia. As a proof that not only I am concerned about the way Latvia is governed today, you may have the very unique Gatis Šļūka view on the working methods of the Latvian parliament.

Text in Latvian: QUESTION: puk,puk,puk...tuk,tuk, tuk...bu, bu, bu...AN ANSWER: bla, bla, bla


Today's Diena had a nice report about salaries of the top - notch civil servants. And it just gives you insight about the questionable system of remuneration at the highest level of civil service in Latvia.

Average monthly salary of Latvian under secretaries*, before taxes (Ls)

Ministry / Under secretary /2008./2009.

Agriculture /Dace Lucaua /6532 /3539
Finance / Mārtiņš Bičevskis / 6043 /3564
Economics / Anrijs Matīss / 5217 / 4330
Municipal Affairs / Laimdota Straujuma /5122 / 2852
Children's Affairs / Iveta Zalpētere / 5058 / 2850
Education / Mareks Gruškevics / 4146 / 2852
Transportation / Nils Freivalds / 4003 / 3313
Welfare / Ringolds Beinarovičs / 3888/ 2852
Electronic affairs / Juris Jansons / 3496 / 2450
Defense /Jānis Sārts /3391 / 2744
Environment / Guntis Puķītis / 3372 / 2664
Justice / Mārtiņs Lazdovskis / 3148 / 2094
Foreign Affairs / Andris Teikmanis / 2947 / 2975
Health / Armands Ploriņš / 2890 / 2150
Internal affairs /Aivars Straume / 2746 / 2506
Culture / Solvita Zvidriņa / 2347 / 2000

*Under secretaries (Valsts sekretārs) are the top level civil servants in Latvia responsible for administering ministries. Monthly salary, vacation allowance, bonuses, additional premiums forms the average monthly salary of the under secretary
P.S. For those of you reading in Estonian here is my interview to Sirp.

31 comments:

Unknown said...

Nevis TV3 nāca klajā ar cauri izsistajiem ES projektiem Kombuļos un Indras pagastā, bet gan Zanders nedēļu vai divas pirms to sižetā rādīja TV3

Veiko Spolitis said...

Toms:

Paldies par precizējumu:)

Anonymous said...

Interesanti, mediji izliekas, ka prezentee parsteidzoshu zinju par ES naudas aizieshanu padumjos projektos, atbildigas institucijas telo shoku, sabiedriba telo, ka pirmo reiz par tik dumjiem projektiem dzird..

.. nu es varu telot, ko pa ar sabiedribu un izlikties, ka pats tik pat dumjus projektus gan KKF, gan NVO pasparnee neesmu rakstiijis.

Veiko Spolitis said...

To anonymous:

Ko Jūs ar to vēlējāties pateikt?:)

VS

Anonymous said...

viagra without a prescription viagra rrp australia viagra canada lowest price viagra can women take viagra cheap cheap viagra which is better cialis or viagra cheap viagra canada viagra equivalent viagra blood pressure women's viagra viagra jelly viagra australia viagra stories

Anonymous said...

[b]synthroid substitute for soloxine
[/b]
plavix and coenzyme q10
self prescription of antabuse
toprol xl pulled from market
dosage bipolar pediatric abilify
accupril stomach cramps
missed periods on alesse
combining albon and actigall
anaprox stopped my period
does periactin increase your appetite
lexapro cause weight gain
problems with viagra
asacol used for which diseases
what is bactrim used for
singulair side effect
ultram detox
doctor prescribe nolvadex
effexor weight loss
alesse birth control pill
psa proscar
actonel vs alendronate
purchase aldactone
plavix alternative
amoxil 500 fish
allegra print imaging
where to purchase nolvadex
side effects aricept
anti impotence levitra
what is amaryl used for
anafranil and blood tests
pbs alzhiemer's disease aricept mmse severe

[url=http://buy-proscar.aragornik.com/xadareso.html] buy kamagra jelly [/url]
[url=http://definition-of.frodiog.info/ndigritok.html] norvasc prescription drug side effects [/url]
[url=http://6-mp.bueaga.bij.pl/cknir.html] mexican rx cialis low priced [/url]
[url=http://actos-plus.andanterra.orge.pl/ppasha.html] actos lawyers contigency [/url]
[url=http://cialis-tadalafil.bueaga.bij.pl/ushigned.html] cialis tadalafil 4 pack overnight [/url]
[url=http://relafen-and.pirinka.osa.pl/meiglon.html] wellbutrin remeron combination [/url]
[url=http://buy-generic.faramirik.net/xappenedix.html] xenical dose [/url]
[url=http://adding-prozac.pirinka.osa.pl/qussedich.html] reglan and diarrhea [/url]
[url=http://buy-acomplia.metlama.bee.pl/marlfrildor.html] message board acomplia [/url]
[url=http://g-postmessage.lamazerro.345.pl/gedatheanisk.html] cialis vs viagra [/url]
[url=http://kamagra-lovegra.faramirik.net/relich.html] macrobid interactions [/url]
[url=http://omeprazole-dos.lamazerro.345.pl/qushefo.html] medication plendil [/url]
[url=http://tamiflu-efficacy.bueaga.bij.pl/zlommitudles.html] side effects of paxil drug [/url]
[url=http://are-naproxen.andanterra.orge.pl/atidrme.html] albuterol sulfate tablets [/url]
[url=http://congestive-hea.lamazerro.345.pl/ccisothtofu.html] accutane reviews [/url]

albuterol for bronchitis
effects of actonel
actonel speakers
is desyrel safe
cymbalta concerta improve
amoxil false positive urine test
albuterol and copd
donald rumsfield tamiflu
abilify half life
wekipedia singulair
periactin compound
actoplus met
seroquel be used for anxiety
buying viagra in uk
flagyl and birth control pills
aralen drug interactions
bactrim for bacterial prostatitis
tamiflu side effects
buy sumycin
artane boys band

[url=http://dog-reg.pirinka.osa.pl/index.html]financial averages apri 2007[/url]
paxil anxiety
interaction lanoxin ibuprofen
effective methods norplant
prevacid bone
http://eisai-aricept.faramirik.net/map.html |memantine versus aricept
use of zetia and lopid together
[url=http://viagra-ireland.kaliziare.name/index.html]edinburgh viagra search charles linskaill[/url]
no prescrition brand name xenical
http://6-mp.bueaga.bij.pl/map.html |6 np and asacol

plavix side effects reaction
periactin dosage
glucophage combination
synthroid medicine
allegra d sold over the counter
ultram withdrawal symptoms
arava causes short term memory loss
premarin side effects
clomid and robotussin
what is accupril used for

Anonymous said...

[u][b]Xrumer[/b][/u]

[b]Xrumer SEO Professionals

As Xrumer experts, we possess been using [url=http://www.xrumer-seo.com]Xrumer[/url] quest of a sustained leisure conditions and know how to harness the massive power of Xrumer and build it into a Cash machine.

We also yield the cheapest prices on the market. Diverse competitors desire charge 2x or temperate 3x and a end of the time 5x what we charge you. But we believe in providing great mending at a small affordable rate. The large point of purchasing Xrumer blasts is because it is a cheaper substitute to buying Xrumer. So we focusing to abide by that thought in recollection and yield you with the cheapest grade possible.

Not only do we cause the best prices but our turnaround heyday after your Xrumer posting is wonderful fast. We compel have your posting done before you certain it.

We also cater you with a ample log of successful posts on contrary forums. So that you can see also in behalf of yourself the power of Xrumer and how we get harnessed it to benefit your site.[/b]


[b]Search Engine Optimization

Using Xrumer you can wish to see thousands upon thousands of backlinks in behalf of your site. Scads of the forums that your Install you settle upon be posted on get acute PageRank. Having your association on these sites can deep down help build up some crown quality endorse links and as a matter of fact boost your Alexa Rating and Google PageRank rating utterly the roof.

This is making your instal more and more popular. And with this better in popularity as well as PageRank you can envisage to witness your area really filthy high-pitched in those Search Locomotive Results.
Above

The amount of traffic that can be obtained nearby harnessing the power of Xrumer is enormous. You are publishing your situation to tens of thousands of forums. With our higher packages you may regular be publishing your position to HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of forums. Visualize 1 mail on a stylish forum will usually get 1000 or so views, with communicate 100 of those people visiting your site. These days create tens of thousands of posts on popular forums all getting 1000 views each. Your traffic ordain associate through the roof.

These are all targeted visitors that are interested or singular nearly your site. Imagine how assorted sales or leads you can execute with this considerable loads of targeted visitors. You are truly stumbling upon a goldmine friendly to be picked and profited from.

Remember, Above is Money.
[/b]

GET YOUR TWOPENNY BURST TODAY:


http://www.xrumer-seo.com

Anonymous said...

[B]NZBsRus.com[/B]
No More Laggin Downloads With NZB Downloads You Can Rapidly Find Movies, PC Games, MP3 Albums, Applications & Download Them @ Rapid Speeds

[URL=http://www.nzbsrus.com][B]Usenet Search[/B][/URL]

Anonymous said...

Infatuation casinos? enquiry this grassy [url=http://www.realcazinoz.com]casino[/url] aviatrix and confine a combat up online casino games like slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat and more at www.realcazinoz.com .
you can also into our blooming [url=http://freecasinogames2010.webs.com]casino[/url] rule at http://freecasinogames2010.webs.com and be beneficiary to in deep-rooted tangled currency !
another queer [url=http://www.ttittancasino.com]casino spiele[/url] range up is www.ttittancasino.com , as opposed to of german gamblers, an structure humanitarian online casino bonus.

Anonymous said...

Someone deleted a variety of links from uloz.to and uploading servers.

From now, we will use www.tinyurlalternative.com as our main [url=http://www.tinyurlalternative.com]url shortener[/url], so every url will be there and visible for everyone.

You can pick out from many great [url=http://kfc.ms]short url[/url] address like:

kfc.ms easysharelink.info jumpme.info megauploadlink.info megavideolink.info mygamelink.info myrapidsharelink.info mytorrentlink.info myurlshortener.com mywarezlink.info urlredirect.info urlshrinker.info weblinkshortener.com youtubelink.info and many others.

They maintain above 60 other available domains and the [url=http://myurlshortener.com]url shortener[/url] service work well for free without any registration needed.

So we assume it is good notion and propose you to use [url=http://urlredirect.info]url redirect[/url] service too!

Thank you.

Anonymous said...

[url=http://ztf3xizc.100webspace.net/mail-ord66/sshereesucl.html] making of viagra [/url] [url=http://724krm7o.100webspace.net/tramadol7d/linfre.html] treat anxiety lamictal [/url] [url=http://dxlisf2i.100webspace.net/levaquin4e/tureroreds.html] levaquin weight loss [/url] [url=http://w8dcb1lk.100webspace.net/nexium-a75/heethan.html] nexium free trial coupons [/url] [url=http://917w3cia.100webspace.net/lamictal8b/xishovede.html] lamictal false possitve drug test [/url] [url=http://q0ik6mxq.100webspace.net/suicide-3c/veche.html] symptoms of synthroid overdose [/url] [url=http://tbjmyqp6.100webspace.net/premarindf/apereleld.html] premarin side effects [/url] [url=http://724krm7o.100webspace.net/remeron-06/jecoplker.html] renal insuffiency edema lasix zaroxolyn [/url] [url=http://f3uc3pra.100webspace.net/zantac-f3c/quaveterl.html] zantac side effects in babies [/url] [url=http://452ljkt9.100webspace.net/mobic-pr12/eirenspezt.html] motrin 800 mg [/url] [url=http://917w3cia.100webspace.net/herbal-sca/covickhayou.html] hip pain arimidex [/url] [url=http://q0ik6mxq.100webspace.net/side-eff5d/trsuiredi.html] side effects zetia [/url] [url=http://724krm7o.100webspace.net/order-so11/vinecckes.html] organic essential oils soma therapy [/url] [url=http://452ljkt9.100webspace.net/lilly-eve1/insaseredo.html] lipitor 27side effects27 [/url] [url=http://igtqvd4s.100webspace.net/prilosec2a/thellea.html] procardia for nipple vasospasm [/url]

Anonymous said...

You could easily be making money online in the hush-hush world of [URL=http://www.www.blackhatmoneymaker.com]blackhat system[/URL], It's not a big surprise if you have no clue about blackhat marketing. Blackhat marketing uses not-so-popular or little-understood avenues to generate an income online.

Anonymous said...

Artistically done is better than spectacularly said.

Anonymous said...

Splendidly done is richer reconsider than comfortably said.

Anonymous said...

Splendidly done is better than well said.

Anonymous said...

Artistically done is sick than extravagantly said.

Anonymous said...

Splendidly done is sick than well said.

Anonymous said...

A the huan race who dares to decay anyone hour of one of these days has not discovered the value of life.

[url=http://www.forexpros.com/forums/members/jabyron.html?vmid=334#vmessage334]Ana[/url]


Jessica

Anonymous said...

A man who dares to barrens everyone hour of one of these days has not discovered the value of life.

[url=http://reachingoutmba.org/member/5226/]Mark[/url]


Linsey

Anonymous said...

We should be meticulous and particular in all the advice we give. We should be especially aware in giving advice that we would not dream up of following ourselves. Most of all, we ought to escape giving advisor which we don't follow when it damages those who take us at our word.

lutron

[url=http://lutron-25.webs.com/apps/blog/]lutron[/url]

Anonymous said...

A human beings begins icy his perceptiveness teeth the first time he bites on holiday more than he can chew.

Anonymous said...

To be a good human being is to from a philanthropic of openness to the far-out, an gift to group undeterminable things beyond your own control, that can take you to be shattered in hugely exceptionally circumstances on which you were not to blame. That says something remarkably important with the prerequisite of the honest compulsion: that it is based on a corporation in the unpredictable and on a willingness to be exposed; it's based on being more like a shop than like a jewel, something kind of feeble, but whose very precise attraction is inseparable from that fragility.

Anonymous said...

To be a adroit charitable being is to procure a amiable of openness to the in the seventh heaven, an cleverness to group aleatory things beyond your own pilot, that can front you to be shattered in hugely exceptional circumstances on which you were not to blame. That says something remarkably impressive with the prerequisite of the ethical passion: that it is based on a corporation in the fitful and on a willingness to be exposed; it's based on being more like a weed than like a prize, something kind of feeble, but whose extremely item beauty is inseparable from that fragility.

Anonymous said...

To be a upright benign being is to be enduring a philanthropic of openness to the far-out, an skill to guardianship aleatory things beyond your own manage, that can take you to be shattered in very extreme circumstances pro which you were not to blame. That says something uncommonly important relating to the get of the righteous autobiography: that it is based on a trustworthiness in the fitful and on a willingness to be exposed; it's based on being more like a shop than like a treasure, something rather feeble, but whose extremely special attractiveness is inseparable from that fragility.

Anonymous said...

Exercise ferments the humors, casts them into their adapted channels, throws substandard redundancies, and helps cosmos in those secret distributions, without which the association cannot subsist in its vigor, nor the incarnation role of with cheerfulness.

Anonymous said...

Work out ferments the humors, casts them into their right channels, throws substandard redundancies, and helps nature in those confidential distributions, without which the association cannot subsist in its vigor, nor the soul fake with cheerfulness.

Anonymous said...

n the whole world's existence, at some dated, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into passion beside an be faced with with another human being. We should all be glad quest of those people who rekindle the inner transport

Anonymous said...

resource to [b]buy software for windows[/b] is available at:

buy software for windows
[url=http://www.buysoftwareforwindows.com]buy software for windows[/url]

[url=http://www.buysoftwareforwindows.com/products/buy-dvd-to-go-converter/productpage.php]buy dvd to go converter[/url]

buy calculator

Anonymous said...

[url=http://newloans.skachatnow.co.cc/consolidation-debt-finance-home-loan-mortgage-re.php]consolidation debt finance home loan mortgage re[/url]
http://loanstoday.skachatnow.co.cc/advance-cash-fast-fax-no.php - advance cash fast fax no
[url=http://fastloans.skachatnow.co.cc/bad-canadian-credit-loan-personal.php]bad canadian credit loan personal[/url]
[url=http://loanstoday.skachatnow.co.cc/college-credit-loan-poor.php]college credit loan poor[/url]
[url=http://newloans.skachatnow.co.cc/auto-bad-credit-guaranteed-loan.php]auto bad credit guaranteed loan[/url]
http://fastloans.skachatnow.co.cc/stafford-loan-information.php - stafford loan information
http://paydayloan.skachatnow.co.cc/car-credit-loan-no-uk.php - car credit loan no uk
[url=http://loanstoday.skachatnow.co.cc/best-refinance-loan-rate.php]best refinance loan rate[/url]
[url=http://getloan.skachatnow.co.cc/canada-debt-loan-reduction-student.php]canada debt loan reduction student[/url]
[url=http://getloan.skachatnow.co.cc/alaska-bad-credit-auto-loan.php]alaska bad credit auto loan[/url]

Anonymous said...

In every tom's life, at some occasion, our inner pep goes out. It is then break asunder into zeal by an face with another hominoid being. We should all be under obligation for those people who rekindle the inner spirit

Anonymous said...

top [url=http://www.xgambling.org/]free casino[/url] hinder the latest [url=http://www.realcazinoz.com/]casino bonus[/url] unshackled no set aside hand-out at the foremost [url=http://www.baywatchcasino.com/]bay anticipate casino
[/url].