Kaspars Gorkšs, who has been nominated for the position of Director of Latvia’s State Chancellery, has previously gained experience in state or municipal institutions only in the field of sports, according to information provided by the State Chancellery to LETA about his professional background.
A second competition for the position of State Chancellery Director was announced on the 7th of August this year. One of the requirements was that candidates have experience working in state and/or municipal institutions.
Gorkšs currently works at the Employers’ Confederation of Latvia (LDDK), where he has served as Director General since the 3rd of April, 2023. At the same time, he has also been Director of the Jūrmala Football School since the 9th of November, 2020.
Previously, from March 2021 to October 2023, he was a board member of the Latvian Sports Federations Council. For three years, from March 2020 to March 2023, he served as Executive Director of the Latvian Association of Team Sports.
From March 2018 to October 2019, Gorkšs was President of the Latvian Football Federation.
According to information provided by the State Chancellery, Gorkšs also has teaching experience, having delivered lectures in the University of Latvia’s Sports Law course from September 2023 to August 2024.
Gorkšs studied at the University of Latvia, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in law and a master’s degree in political science.
As previously reported, following the final round of the selection process, Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs (United List) will submit the candidacy of LDDK Director General Kaspars Gorkšs for government approval as Director of the State Chancellery.
The government is scheduled to consider his appointment at its meeting on the 13th of October.
Kulbergs explained that he expects the State Chancellery to become a strong, data-driven centre of government that helps decisions be made more quickly and accurately.
“I believe Gorkšs has the appropriate experience to implement the changes I have outlined for the State Chancellery. All three finalists are strong leaders with experience both within and outside public administration, and I thank each of them for participating in the competition,” Kulbergs said.
Of the nine candidates who reached the second round, the evaluation committee selected three for the final stage: former Director General of the State Revenue Service and current sectoral attaché at the Central Finance and Contracting Agency Ieva Jaunzeme, Director of the Latvian School of Public Administration Agita Kalviņa, and Gorkšs.
During the third round, candidates were assessed on their management competencies, including strategic vision, decision-making and willingness to take responsibility,
results orientation, change management and team leadership.
The selection process for the State Chancellery Director took place in three stages.
After evaluating 18 applications, nine candidates advanced to the second round, while three reached the final stage.
In accordance with the competition procedure, the candidate evaluation committee made a decision on the results of the third round and informed the prime minister.
As previously reported, former State Chancellery Director Raivis Kronbergs was detained in May in the so-called timber industry case.
He was initially suspended from his position, but the parties later agreed that Kronbergs would leave the post.
The State Chancellery serves as the centre of Latvia’s government. Its task is to ensure the functioning of the government and provide the prime minister and Cabinet with information based on data and research.
This includes conducting data analysis, assessing different policy scenarios and involving experts from various fields to support more accurate, evidence-based decision-making.
The State Chancellery is headed by its director, who is the country’s highest-ranking civil servant.
Since September 2015, the State Chancellery has been responsible for the centralised selection of heads of state institutions within Latvia’s direct public administration.