Saeima appoints Dita Remberga to media council

Dita Remberga, the former head of the monitoring department at Latvia’s National Electronic Mass Media Council, has been appointed a member of the council, LSM reported.

The Saeima’s Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee selected Remberga as the preferred candidate from a field of nine. Three candidates were put forward for a vote, and National Alliance MP Jānis Eglītis nominated Remberga.

Remberga has worked at the council for nine years, first as a legal adviser and senior expert, and since 2019 as head of its Monitoring Department. Council members are approved by the Saeima for five-year terms on the committee’s recommendation.

The vacancy followed the Saeima’s decision in June to release Ivars Āboliņš from the council. Āboliņš had announced he would step down to become parliamentary secretary at the Culture Ministry. Aurēlija Ieva Druviete, previously the council’s deputy chair, was elected chair on the day Āboliņš’s departure was approved.

By law, candidates must be Latvian citizens with declared residence in the country, hold higher education qualifications and have at least five years of professional or academic experience in media, education, culture, science or human rights. They must also have a good reputation and be eligible for special clearance to access state secrets. The law bars party officials, owners of shares in electronic media companies and people convicted of intentional crimes who have not been rehabilitated or had their convictions expunged or removed.