Not possible to be confident that violations in LU rector elections impacted the outcome - State Chancellery

RIGA - According to a conclusion from the State Chancellery, it is not be possible to be completely confident that the violations established by the Education and Science Ministry in regards to the University of Latvia's rector elections impacted the outcome.

The State Chancellery points out that the Education and Science Ministry has based its conclusions on the violations during the LU rector election process on assumptions. ''Taking into account that the reasoning must be correct and understandable, we cannot accept conclusions that have not been based on any evidence,'' the State Chancellery points out.

Thus, it is not possible to conclude that the ministry's established violations had any impact on the result of the LU rector elections, the State Chancellery goes on to say.

As reported, the government today is planning on deciding whether or not to confirm Indrikis Muiznieks as the rector of LU for another term.

Meanwhile, Education and Science Minister Ilga Suplinska (New Conservative Party, JKP) has made the decision not to approve re-election of Indrikis Muiznieks as the rector of the University of Latvia.

Suplinska said earlier that she recommends the government not to confirm Muiznieks as University of Latvia rector, but this decision will ultimately be made by the government. She added that she will submit to the government conclusions of violations established by the State Education Quality Service.

Previously, the head of the State Education Quality Service Inita Juhnevica confirmed that they have ascertained violations in the University of Latvia rector election process. Juhnevica also said that the legitimacy of the Constitutional Assembly of the University of Latvia is also under doubt.

The Constitutional Assembly of the University of Latvia convened an extraordinary meeting on June 6 because of uncertainty related with the election results during the first stage of the elections organized in May.

On May 24, Muiznieks was supported with 141 votes, while 143 members voted against him. The other candidate – Gundars Berzins – received 128 votes, while 156 members voted against him.

Initially the regulations were interpreted so that the winner is the one who received more votes in his support. However, after protests from students and other institutions, Muiznieks ordered to convene an extraordinary meeting in order “to strengthen the rule of law and the university’s reputation”.

In the second meeting, Muiznieks was elected with 132 votes to 112, while nine voting slips were not valid. Delegates this time voted only on one candidate who won the majority of votes at the first stage in May.

The Cabinet of Ministers still has to make the decision on appointing Muiznieks to the post.