The Saeima on February 27 endorsed legislative amendments that will change the procedure of selecting the Prosecutor general in future, reported the LETA newswire.

The vote on the final reading of the legislation was carried by 75 votes to 1 with 13 deputies not voting either way.

The range of possible candidates will be expanded, and judges and prosecutors of all levels will be able to run for the position.

The candidate for the prosecutor general’s office will have to be at least 40 years old, should have at least five-year experience in the position of a Constitutional Court Judge, a Supreme Court judge, an international court judge or a transnational court judge, or at least ten-year experience in the position of a regional court judge, a chief prosecutor, a prosecutor at the court regional prosecutor’s office, Prosecutor General’s office or at least 15-year experience in the position of a judge or a prosecutor. The Judicial Council will evaluate the candidates.

The Judicial Council by April 1, 2020, will have to adopt the terms of the tender, the selection procedure and criteria.

The main goal of the bill is to introduce regulations that provide that the prosecutor general is selected in an open tender, based on clear-cut criteria, said Justice Minister Jānis Bordāns (New Conservative Party) earlier.

At present, Saeima appoints the prosecutor general to the position for a term of five years at recommendation of the Supreme Court Chairman that is coordinated with the Judicial Council.

Terms in the office of the incumbent prosecutor general and Supreme Court chairman will expire this year – on June 15 for Prosecutor General Ēriks Kalnmeiers and on July 11 for Supreme Court Chairman Ivars Bičkovičs.

LSM.LV