Latvia postpones decision on Gorkšs as State Chancellery chief

Latvia’s government will not consider Kaspars Gorkšs for director of the State Chancellery on Tuesday after the New Unity parliamentary group asked to meet him first, LSM reported. The group wants to hear his views on public administration reform, civic engagement and management of state spending.

New Unity leader Edmunds Jurēvics thanked coalition partners for agreeing to postpone the decision so Gorkšs could meet the group’s MPs. He said the director’s role is important both in working with the Cabinet and in maintaining dialogue with non-governmental organisations.

Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs of the United List said there were several vacant senior public-sector positions, including leadership roles at the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau and a number of state secretary posts. Decisions could not be delayed indefinitely, he said, adding that public institutions needed leaders who would take responsibility and ensure their work continued. He also said the party’s wish to meet the candidate first would be respected.

New Unity is expected to meet Gorkšs on Wednesday, October 14. The party had asked the government not to consider his appointment on October 13, saying it wanted answers to many questions before his candidacy went to a Cabinet meeting.

Gorkšs is currently director general of the Employers’ Confederation of Latvia and has led the Jūrmala Football School since 2020. He previously served on the board of the Latvian Sports Federation Council, as executive director of the Latvian Team Sports Association and as president of the Latvian Football Federation. He has also lectured on sports law at the University of Latvia, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in law and political science respectively.

The State Chancellery director’s post became vacant after former director Raivis Kronbergs left in connection with the so-called timber processors criminal case. An initial recruitment competition, announced on May 29, ended without a candidate advancing to the second round; the evaluation commission rejected all six applicants. The government then sought a new director from within the public administration without holding another competition.