RIGA - Ombudsman Romans Apsitis has come under fire from members of his staff, many of whom demand he resign.
In a petition signed by more than 20 employees of the Ombudsman's office, staff said Apsitis is easily influenced, LNT television news reported on July 3.
Apsitis is on vacation at the moment, though his advisor stated that the ombudsman is not easily swayed. Apsitis is unaware of his office demands
The petition letter was sent to President Valdis Zatlers and Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis after employees had formed a trade union.
The crux of the claims includes approving unjustified budget spending, using repressive measures against employees and snap changes of decisions to please unspecified politicians. Employees also wrote that some of the offices important decisions have been occasionally unnecessarily delayed.
The letter also reads that two employees in the office are doing unnecessary work. The authors of the letter say that "the results of such incompetence have cost the Ombudsman Office approximately 45,000 lats."
Two employees of the Ombudsman Office who signed the letter demanding his resignation have been fired, according to LNT news.
Apsitis was also absent at the last parliamentary session, where he was slated to give an overview of 2008 Ombudsman Office activities.
Ombudsman councilor Velga Slaidina told the Baltic News Service that Apsitis had sent a letter of apology to Parliament regarding his absence. Slaidina said that Apsitis was not aware of which session this overview was to take place.
He will be given another chance to present the activities at the July 16 parliamentary session, despite his planned vacation extending through the end of July.
On the morning of July 7, a small protest was held by employees outside the Ombudsman's Office. The office's oldest employee, Lilija Akere, held a picket sign inviting Apsitis to resign reading: "You are represented by an administrative monopoly!"
Akere told reporters that she considers "Latvian residents are without rights and a just system of judgment." She went on to say that false information and other wrongful doings are the reason why Apsitis should resign from his post.
"As we worked on law projects regarding the Ombudsman Office as well as budget, we certainly thought that the Ombudsman Office's would work in the future. We put hope on this, but this has absolutely not happened," said Diana Smite, a former employee of the office.
Apsitis in a July 1 interview with Latvijas Vestnesis newspaper said he had "deep thoughts" about whether or not to continue working in his current position.
"I still think. There are also other things to consider, such as my age and my health. The work in this profession is somewhat stressful. How long can it last that I can not sleep at night? I feel my nervous system is very much weakened," said Apsitis.
