The Council of Public Electronic Media (SOESMI) is still operating with an incomplete composition, as the second attempt to elect a candidate nominated under the memorandum of cooperation between non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the Cabinet of Ministers has again ended in failure - only 34 deputies voted for Jānis Siksnīš, reports Diena.
The rejected candidate told reporters after the Saeima meeting that the statements of certain Saeima deputies undermine democracy. However, the Saeima did not support the proposal from the opposition National Alliance and the 'United List' (OS) to reduce the number of members of the Council of Public Electronic Media (SOESMI) to two, leaving only representatives nominated by the president and the Saeima. This means that a third candidate will have to be sought again - in the hope that this time the politicians will not have objections to the nomination.
It should be reminded that on June 19, the Saeima did not approve Ivars Siksnīš as a candidate for SOESMI. Siksnīš and another unelected member of the previous council, Jānis Eglītis, will receive compensation amounting to three months' salary, which is over 32,000 euros each. Siksnīš was the chairman of the previous SOESMI and faced criticism for his professional activities.
SOESMI member Una Klapkalne appealed to the Saeima deputies not to approve Siksnīš, stating that if he were approved, she would resign from the council. The former chair of the board of Latvian Radio stated that Siksnīš's working style as chairman of SOESMI was associated with "emotionally inadequate reactions and actions in work situations, as well as a toxic and disrespectful working atmosphere." Siksnīš expressed surprise at Klapkalne's statements.
