Who Will Head KNAB? Deputy Chief Roze Advances to Final Round, Reinikis Eliminated

In Latvia, the competition for the position of Chief of the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (CPCB) continues. One of the two candidates admitted to the final selection stage is the current Deputy Chief of the bureau for operational matters, Janis Roze. This was reported by the LETA agency, citing information at its disposal. This week, the State Chancellery announced that out of nine candidates, the competition commission selected two candidates to participate in the second, final stage of the competition. The name of one of the finalists, Janis Roze, was confirmed by the LETA agency. The identity of the second candidate is not disclosed in the announcement. It is known that the head of the CPCB's Operational Activities Department, Renars Reinikis, who also participated in the competition, did not advance to the next stage. ### What is Known About Janis Roze? Janis Roze has many years of experience in law enforcement and the anti-corruption bureau. Before joining the CPCB, he worked in the Security Police, which was later transformed into the State Security Service. In 2014, Roze headed the Internal Security Department of the CPCB. This position was offered to him by the then head of the bureau, Jaroslav Streļčonoks. In the summer of 2016, Roze was appointed Deputy to Streļčonoks on anti-corruption matters. He currently serves as Deputy Chief of the CPCB for operational matters. ### Why Did Reinikis Drop Out of the Competition? Another participant in the competition was Renars Reinikis, who heads the Operational Activities Department of the CPCB. According to LETA, he has been working in the anti-corruption bureau since around 2006. Prior to that, Reinikis served in the State Police. Despite his many years of experience in the bureau, the competition commission did not allow him to proceed to the second stage. The reasons for this decision have not been specified. ### How Will the New Chief of the CPCB Be Selected? In the first stage of the competition, the commission reviewed the documents submitted by the candidates and their compliance with the mandatory requirements. The final stage involves a more detailed assessment of the professional qualifications, experience, and knowledge of the candidates. Additionally, candidates will need to present their vision for the future activities and development of the CPCB, as well as proposals for improving the fight against corruption in Latvia. Based on the results of the competition, the candidate with the highest score will be submitted for approval to the Cabinet of Ministers. However, the final decision on the appointment is made by the Saeima based on the government's recommendation. The head of the CPCB is appointed for a term of five years. The competition commission is chaired by the director of the State Chancellery. It also includes the Attorney General, the director of the Bureau for the Protection of the Constitution, and the head of the State Security Service. Up to three representatives of the Public Advisory Council may participate in the selection with advisory voting rights. ### Why Does the CPCB Lack a Permanent Leader? The competition was announced after the unexpected departure of the previous head of the bureau, Jakabs Straume. In early August, he retired early due to length of service, without publicly explaining the reasons for his decision. Straume first headed the CPCB in June 2017 and was appointed for a second five-year term in 2022. Thus, he left the position before the end of his term. Currently, the duties of the head of the CPCB are temporarily performed by Deputy Director Ineta Cirule. She did not apply to participate in the competition.