RIGA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Latvian lawmakers at a parliament sitting on Thursday voted to appoint Santa Purgaile as the Baltic country's chief banking supervisor, local media reported.
Purgaile, a former banker, was approved for the supervisory position by 55 votes to four, with 21 MPs abstaining.
Representatives of the ruling coalition praised Purgaile's professionalism and recommended her as the best suited candidate to head the Finance and Capital Market Commission (FCMC) at a time when the Latvian banking sector is faced with challenging tasks like bringing some banks in compliance with anti-money laundering rules.
Purgaile was chosen as the best candidate for FCMC head in an open tender.
Latvia needed a new banking supervisor because previous FCMC head Peters Putnins and his deputy Gunta Razane announced resignation in July.
