RIGA, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Latvian ministers at a government meeting on Tuesday voted against reappointing Indrikis Muiznieks as University of Latvia rector, local media reported.
The cabinet voted on the rector's reappointment after the Education and Science Ministry's representatives claimed that a number of laws and election rules were breached in the University of Latvia rector's elections.
While all other ministers voted against Muiznieks' reappointment, Economics Minister Ralfs Nemiro, Interior Minister Sandis Girgens and Welfare Minister Ramona Petravica abstained from voting, arguing that the government could not assume the role of a court of arbitration in this contentious situation.
Muiznieks called the government's refusal to reappoint him as rector of the Baltic country's top university a political decision and vowed to appeal it in court. The University of Latvia has lodged two lawsuits in connection with Muiznieks' reappointment bid.
Gvido Straube, a professor at the University of Latvia's Faculty of History and Philosophy, was appointed the university's acting rector. Straube said his immediate "priority and duty" would be to organize a new rector's election.
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 poll was held, and this time Muiznieks won the election.
Muiznieks, a professor of biology, was first elected University of Latvia rector in 2015.
