The popular prosecutor general failed to secure another term in office after many MP changed colors in the voting booth. (photo: Latvian Prosecutor General's Office)
RIGA -- Latvian Parliament has voted to block General Prosecutor Jānis Maizītis from taking another term in office.
Maizītis is a popular anti-corruption figure and was widely expected to win another term in the post. Every political party had said they would support his candidature, though numerous lawmakers failed to do so after learning it would be a secret ballot.
The vote drew outspoken criticism from both the right and left of the political spectrum, including leading members of the People's Party and Harmony Center.
"President Zatlers should dissolve Saeima because words and deeds don't match for over half of the deputies," Harmony Center MP Janis Urbanovics was quoted as saying. "This means that votes on other matters will be just as immoral as this one," he said.
People's Party MP Janis Lagzdins said the vote was "pitiful."
A total of 45 Saeima members voted for Maizitis, 47 voted against. Parliament will not have until May 11, when the current mandate ends, to find a new candidate for the post.
Maizitis was first elected prosecutor general in 2000 for a period of five years.
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