The Latvian government on Tuesday approved the appointment of Kaspars Gorkšs, Director General of the Employers’ Confederation of Latvia (LDDK), as the new Director of the State Chancellery.
The government had initially planned to decide on Gorkšs’ appointment last week. However, the decision was postponed to allow him to meet with the parliamentary group of New Unity (JV).
The party ultimately delegated the final decision on whether to support the candidate to its ministers during the Cabinet meeting.
Meanwhile, the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) and the National Alliance (NA) had previously expressed their support for Gorkšs, who was nominated by Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs (United List).
As previously reported,
Kulbergs decided to nominate Gorkšs for the position following the conclusion of a second selection process.
The prime minister has stated that he expects the State Chancellery to operate as a strong, data-driven centre of government and expressed confidence that Gorkšs possesses the experience needed to implement the necessary changes.
Gorkšs currently serves as Director General of the Employers’ Confederation of Latvia and has also headed the Jūrmala Football School since 2020.
Previously, he served as a board member of the Latvian Sports Federations Council, Executive Director of the Latvian Team Sports Association and President of the Latvian Football Federation.
Gorkšs also has academic experience, having delivered lectures in the Sports Law course at the University of Latvia.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in law and a master’s degree in political science, both obtained from the University of Latvia.
The position of State Chancellery Director became vacant after the previous head of the institution, Raivis Kronbergs, resigned following his detention in the so-called timber industry case.
The Director of the State Chancellery is a senior civil service official responsible for overseeing the work of the government’s central administration and providing support to the prime minister and the Cabinet of Ministers.