Kaspars Gorkšs Reportedly Picked as Best Candidate for State Chancellery Director

Three candidates have reached the final round of the competition for director of the State Chancellery, according to unofficial information obtained by the news agency LETA. They are Kaspars Gorkšs, director general of the Employers' Confederation of Latvia; Ieva Jaunzeme, an employee of the Central Finance and Contracting Agency and former director general of the State Revenue Service; and Agita Kalviņa, head of the State Administration School.

Latvian Television reported on Wednesday evening that Gorkšs had been named the best candidate. According to that information, the Prime Minister could soon propose his candidacy for approval by the government.

The State Chancellery does not disclose or comment on candidates' names. Gorkšs and Kalviņa also declined to comment, while LETA has so far been unable to reach Jaunzeme.

How the competition works

The third round assesses leadership competencies: strategic vision, the ability to make decisions and take responsibility, results orientation, change management and team leadership. The highest-rated candidate or candidates will be recommended to the Prime Minister for approval by the Cabinet of Ministers. The director will be appointed for five years.

The competition drew 18 applications. It is the second such contest within a few months: in the first, no suitable candidate was found among six applicants, so a new one was announced in early August. Several requirements for applicants were significantly lowered in the repeat contest. The monthly salary for the post is 7,255 euros before tax.

Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs (United List) has said the previous competition ended without a result because its criteria were disproportionately high and prevented many potential applicants from applying.

Why the post is vacant

The previous director, Raivis Kronbergs, was detained in May in the so-called timber industrialists' case. He was first suspended from office, and later the parties agreed that Kronbergs would leave the post.

The State Chancellery is the centre of the Latvian government, providing the Prime Minister and the government with data- and research-based information. Its work is led by the director, who is the highest-ranking civil servant.