LA PAZ – Bolivia’s president on Wednesday criticized some federal officeholders for lacking sufficient work ethic and commitment, saying he wants officials who serve the public interest and not themselves.

In a speech prior to a special Cabinet meeting that included ministers, deputy ministers, ruling-party lawmakers and managers of state-controlled companies, Evo Morales complained of bureaucracy and corruption among some officials.

“We don’t want public servants who are sucking the government teat ... That’s over with. Because I’m very tolerant, very generous, but some comrades go too far,” the leftist head of state said.

He said it was regrettable that some public employees use connections to land cushy positions despite an absence of political commitment, while others post messages on their social media accounts criticizing the process of change instead of doing their jobs.

“They’ve come in to do harm, to make us look bad,” Morales said.

Economy Ministry officials occasionally reject municipal projects as unviable and mock democratically elected mayors, according to Morales, who said other public servants put up bureaucratic obstacles that insinuate they are requesting the payment of bribes.

The president also criticized the lack of coordination between ministries and instructed them to work jointly to solve problems, as well as provide complete assessments to the president’s office, including unfavorable information.

Morales, who announced a Cabinet reshuffle on Jan. 23, has governed Bolivia since 2006 and is planning to seek a fourth term in office in 2019.