The article discusses how ethics and accountability are crucial in modern government due to a crisis of legitimacy. Performance management alone is not enough to address this crisis. Citizens expect ethical behavior from politicians and public servants. However, governance and new public management have created new challenges that traditional bureaucratic ethics cannot solve. Devolution and decentralization have increased the responsibility of public servants. Transparency, openness, and service orientation have clashed with traditional values like discretion and equality. The interaction between the public and private sectors has raised integrity concerns. It is important to update the ethical system to align with current government evolutions.