RIGA, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Latvian Education and Science Minister Ilga Suplinska said on Tuesday she would advise the government against reappointing Indrikis Muiznieks as rector of the University of Latvia.
The education minister said on public radio that after reports of alleged violations in the rector's election and findings provided by the State Education Quality Service, the Education and Science Ministry has drafted a recommendation against Muiznieks' reappointment for a second term.
Suplinska said the decision has been coordinated with the Justice Ministry and the State Chancellery.
Rector Muiznieks, meanwhile, said the university disagreed with the State Education Quality Service's allegations and maintained that the University of Latvia's Constitutional Assembly did not breach any law as it reelected him as head of Latvia's top university.
Muiznieks said if the government decides not to approve his reelection, he will appeal the decision in court.
Both Suplinska and Muiznieks asserted that if the rector is reappointed for another term, they will be able to work with each constructively as the disagreements are about the election procedure, not between them personally.
The last election of the University of Latvia rector was marred by controversy. In the first vote, which took place on May 24, 2019, Muiznieks only received 141 votes, while 143 votes were cast against him. Still, he was declared winner of the election, which caused public outcry. Later, a repeated ballot was held, and this time Muiznieks won the vote.
Muiznieks, a professor of biology, was first elected University of Latvia rector in 2015.
