New ombudsman approved

  • 2007-03-02
  • TBT staff
RIGA 's After much debate, Saeima (Latvian Parliament) has approved Romans Apistis to the post of ombudsman. The ruling coalition nominated Apistis, but he is also supported by the opposition New Era party.

Apistis has been a professor of Law at the University of Latvia since 2003 and a judge in the constitutional court since 1996, but his appointment on the court will soon end. . He has been elected into Saeima twice and served as justice minister from 1994 till 1995.

The Latvian ombudsman was scheduled to take office on Jan. 1, but it was delayed when the two previous candidates for the post were rejected.

The ombudsman will work as an intermediary between the state and the citizens, helping to resolve disputes in less complicated ways and reducing the workload of the courts.