On Thursday, 3 March, with 49 votes for and 45 against, the Saeima appointed Juris Jansons as Ombudsman for the second consecutive term.

Ilze Bērziņa-Ruķere, lecturer at Riga Stradiņš University, was also nominated for the post. The open ballot voting procedure for both candidates at was held in two rounds at the same time, because neither of the candidates gathered the necessary number of votes in the first round.

Juris Jansons has been head of the Ombudsman’s Office since 17 March 2011, and his first term will expire on 16 March 2016.

The Saeima appoints the Ombudsman for a term of five years. A citizen of Latvia with an impeccable reputation, who has attained 30 years of age, has a higher education degree, has knowledge and work experience in the field of law enforcement and who, in accordance with the requirements of the law, is entitled to receive a special permit for access to the state secret may be approved as the Ombudsman. A citizen with dual citizenship may not be approved as the Ombudsman.

The Ombudsman is an official in charge of monitoring compliance with human rights and the principles of good governance at the national and municipal level. The Ombudsman is independent in his or her activities and is governed exclusively by the law. No one has the right to influence the Ombudsman in the performance of his or her functions and tasks. The office of the Ombudsman may not be combined with a membership in a political party.

Saeima Press Service