Valainis previously stated that he wished to see candidates with more experience in entrepreneurship, as reported by LTV's De Facto on Sunday.
A record 52 applicants applied for the position of LIAA director, while Minister Valainis was offered a choice between two finalists: Baiba Bļodniece and Fredis Bikovs.
However, the minister said he wanted to see information about a wider range of candidates because the offer did not match what he expected from the Commission, LTV's De Facto reported. The State Chancellery stated that the Minister is denied such information by law.
Valainis believes that if the LIAA director's competition ends without a result, it will be encouraged to amend the selection rules so that ministers, who are politically responsible for the work of the subordinate institutions, have more say over their leadership selection process.
The position of LIAA director has been vacant since late September last year, when the previous director Kaspars Rožkalns left. Iveta Strupkāja is currently the acting director.
