Latvia approves new armed forces commander

Latvia approves new armed forces commander

The appointment came two weeks after the previous commander,Rear Adm. Gaidis Andrejs Zeibots, resigned from the post after a preliminary investigation into the deaths of two paratroopers in a training accident in May concluded the accident was caused by mismanagement.

Eighty lawmakers voted for Maklakovs, with none against and one abstention. Nineteen lawmakers were absent.

Lawmakers also voted to formally remove Zeibots from the post, according to the AP.

Maklakovs, 41, pledged after the vote to instill greater discipline in the armed forces.

"The main problem (with the military) is the inaccurate understanding, implementation and formulation of orders," Maklakovs said.