The new head of the State Chancellery said in an interview that he describes himself as an "atypical civil servant".
Kronbergs, who was confirmed by the government as Director of the State Chancellery on Tuesday, July 23, will start work on August 12.
"A typical civil servant is someone who does not see that it is possible to work and develop differently in public administration. We have a lot of people who are ready to modernize, to become more efficient, to digitalize. If you have a team next to you, you can do it quickly," he said. Currently, the ratio of "atypical" to "typical" civil servants in the public administration is half to half, but "it should be 70 to 30", Kronbergs claimed.
When he starts his new job, he plans to meet the staff at the State Chancellery, who are "currently in need of encouragement", and to discuss remote working.
"We are very excited about remote working, proud of the fact that we were able to provide national and local government functions when the pandemic hit but are now unable to 'get out of it', and see this as an advantage.
"Basically, [work] loses quality, especially in discussions where there are decision-makers, management level because in remote working you are either connected to the issue or not," said Kronbergs.
He pointed out that the issue would be addressed by agreeing and understanding which people would be obliged to return to work in person. "Of course, there are situations when you need to log in remotely, but this will also somehow discipline the timetable. We have become very indispensable with remote working," said Kronbergs, adding that remote workers also do not take breaks.
Kronbergs acknowledged that discussions are also continuing on reducing the number of civil servants. The public administration is already undergoing various digitization processes and reforms, merging institutional functions.
