Latvian economy minister Artis Kampars said the government has been its own worst enemy while trying to turn the crisis around.

RIGA — Latvia’s image abroad is being damaged by chaotic politics, no consensus on issues and constant changes of strategy, the country’s economy minister said.

Speaking Thursday at the Tech Industry 2009 conference in Riga, Minister of Economy Artis Kampars said that it was not the institutions made for promoting the country that form the world’s opinion of the country, but the behavior of the politicians themselves.

“We can blame ourselves for our poor image abroad. For two years already we have failed to agree on a plan for exiting the crisis. We have been constantly changing it,” Kampars said.

Kampars said that the large amount of political parties in the government meant too many chefs spoiled the broth — each pulling in a different direction. He said the multiparty approach meant the country had no view for long-term planning.

“Society has to make conclusions and, in the next elections, vote so that politics become stable,” Kampars said.

Kampers presented the ministry’s analysis of the current economic situation as well as a medium-term economic recovery plan for Latvia. The economy’s potential lies in exports and conquering foreign markets, he said, because internal demand and state revenue is shrinking, a trend that will continue next year.

The international conference on materials and technologies for industrial production, mechanical engineering, metalworking, automation, electronics, electrical engineering and tools fair “Tech Industry 2009” was held at the Kipsala Exhibition Center Thursday.