Reiniks misses final round in KNAB chief contest as Roze advances

Jānis Roze, deputy head of Latvia’s Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB), has advanced to the final round of the competition to lead the bureau, while fellow candidate Renārs Reiniks has not, LSM reported.

The selection committee chose two of nine applicants to proceed to the second round, the State Chancellery said. Roze is one of them. Reiniks, who heads KNAB’s Operational Activities Department, was not selected.

In the second round, the committee will assess candidates’ qualifications, relevant experience and knowledge. It will also hear their views on KNAB’s priorities and development, and on improving anti-corruption measures in Latvia.

The candidate with the highest score will be nominated to the Cabinet of Ministers. The Saeima appoints the KNAB chief for a five-year term on the Cabinet’s recommendation.

Roze became head of KNAB’s Internal Security Division in 2014 and was appointed deputy chief for combating corruption in 2016. Before joining KNAB, he worked for the Security Police. Reiniks joined KNAB around 2006 after working for the State Police.

The current KNAB chief, Jēkabs Straume, retired at the beginning of August before his term ended. He first took up the post in June 2017 and was reappointed for another five-year term in 2022.