Latvia appoints Kaspars Gorkšs to lead State Chancellery

Latvia’s government on Tuesday appointed Kaspars Gorkšs, the outgoing head of the Employers’ Confederation of Latvia, as director of the State Chancellery, LSM reported.

Gorkšs was one of three candidates selected as finalists. Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs of the United List nominated him for the post.

Gorkšs said he would be able to start in about a month, after completing his existing work with the employers’ confederation and the Jurmala football school. He said his experience working with people in the confederation had encouraged him to enter public service.

Kulbergs said the State Chancellery should coordinate and oversee the government’s work. He also called for a new approach to managing state-owned companies and said data coordination between ministries would be important for further digitalisation.

Gorkšs has identified supporting the Cabinet of Ministers in making high-quality decisions and monitoring their implementation, reducing state budget spending, using funds efficiently and changing public administration work culture as priorities.

Tags: Latvia, government, public administration