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5. States shall adopt models that fully comply with these Principles,
strengthen the institution and enhance the level of protection and
promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the country.

6. The Ombudsman shall be elected or appointed according to
procedures strengthening to the highest possible extent the authority,
impartiality, independence and legitimacy of the Institution.
The Ombudsman shall preferably be elected by Parliament by an
appropriate qualified majority.

7. The procedure for selection of candidates shall include a public call
and be public, transparent, merit based, objective, and provided for by
the law.

8. The criteria for being appointed Ombudsman shall be sufficiently broad
as to encourage a wide range of suitable candidates. The essential
criteria are high moral character, integrity and appropriate professional
expertise and experience, including in the field of human rights and
fundamental freedoms.

9. The Ombudsman shall not, during his or her term of office, engage in
political, administrative or professional activities incompatible with his or
her independence or impartiality. The Ombudsman and his or her staff
shall be bound by self-regulatory codes of ethics.

10. The term of office of the Ombudsman shall be longer than the
mandate of the appointing body. The term of office shall preferably be
limited to a single term, with no option for re-election; at any rate, the
Ombudsman’s mandate shall be renewable only once. The single term
shall preferably not be stipulated below seven years.

11. The Ombudsman shall be removed from office only according to an
exhaustive list of clear and reasonable conditions established by law.
These shall relate solely to the essential criteria of “incapacity” or “inability
to perform the functions of office”, “misbehaviour” or “misconduct”, which
shall be narrowly interpreted. The parliamentary majority required for
removal – by Parliament itself or by a court on request of Parliament-
shall be equal to, and preferably higher than, the one required for
election. The procedure for removal shall be public, transparent and
provided for by law.

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