Prime Minister to Nominate Kaspars Gorkšs as State Chancellery Director
Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs will put forward Kaspars Gorkšs, head of the Employers' Confederation of Latvia, for the post of State Chancellery director. The government will consider the appointment on 13 October.
Following the final round of a selection competition, Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs (AS) will propose Kaspars Gorkšs, director general of the Employers' Confederation of Latvia (LDDK), to the government for approval as director of the State Chancellery. The announcement was made by the prime minister's communications adviser, Elīna Šverna. Gorkšs previously captained the Latvian national football team and served as president of the Latvian Football Federation.
The government is due to examine the question of his appointment at its meeting on 13 October.
What the prime minister expects
Kulbergs wants the State Chancellery to become a strong, data-driven centre of government that helps decisions be made faster and more accurately. In his view, Gorkšs has the right experience to carry out these changes. The prime minister also stressed that all three finalists are strong leaders with experience both inside and outside public administration.
How the selection unfolded
The selection took place in three rounds. After 18 applications were assessed, nine candidates advanced to the second round and three to the third: Gorkšs; Ieva Jaunzeme, a former director general of the State Revenue Service who is currently a sector attaché at the Central Finance and Contracting Agency; and Agita Kalviņa, director of the State School of Administration. The third round assessed leadership competencies, including strategic vision, the ability to make decisions and take responsibility, results orientation, change management and team leadership.
The evaluation commission is chaired by Mihails Papsujevičs, state secretary of the Ministry of Justice. Its other members are Baiba Bāne, Inese Gailīte, Normunds Mežviets and Andžejs Viļumsons.
Background
The previous director, Raivis Kronbergs, was detained in May in the so-called timber industry case. He was first suspended from the post, and later the parties agreed that Kronbergs would leave the position.
The State Chancellery ensures the functioning of the government and provides the prime minister and cabinet with information based on data and research. Its work is led by a director, who is the highest-ranking civil servant. Since September 2015, the State Chancellery has run the centralised selection of heads of direct public administration institutions.
