RIGA, Feb 1 (LETA) - Long-time director of the Riga City Council's Legal Affairs Administration Janis Liepins will be transferred to the City Development Department, as Riga Mayor Martins Stakis (Progressives/For) told LETA.

Starting February 8, Liepins will be the head of the City Development Department's Supply and Maintenance Administration.

According to Stakis, Liepins has accepted the offer.

Liepins also confirmed to LETA that he would be transferred to a different job, but declined to comment.

Stakis said that Liepins' transfer to a new job had nothing to do with Liepins' performance or shortcomings. Young blood and new ideas are necessary at the Legal Affairs Administration for it to become more effective, added Stakis.

Until a decision is made whether a competition will be held to select a new head of the Legal Affairs Administration, the administration's senior officer Natalija Bulgakova will be the administration's acting head.

According to LETA archives, Liepins began to work at the Riga City Council's Legal Affairs Administration in 2001, when Gundars Bojars (Latvian Social Democratic Workers Party) was the mayor of Riga.

At the moment, Liepins' monthly salary is EUR 2,353 before tax. In his new job, he will be paid a smaller salary.