20,000 protest against Slovakian culture minister: 'He crosses all borders'

Last week, Matej Drlička, director of the National Opera, and Alexandra Kosa, director of the Slovak National Gallery, were dismissed by Slovak Culture Minister Martina Simkovičová.

According to the Minister of Culture, one of the reasons for Matej Drlička's resignation is that he is a political activist, claiming that, among other things, he preferred foreign opera singers over Slovak ones.

In the case of the director of the National Gallery, Alexandra Kosa, it was, among other things, that the National Gallery building did not bear the Slovak flag. Kosa has now also been replaced by Anton Bitner, a business manager with no proven track record in the arts.

Massive protests: 'crossing all borders'

Due to the departures, discontent and concern have grown within the cultural scene in Slovakia. Several major cultural actors have come together in a letter in which they believe that the actions of the Minister of Culture are infringing on the independent cultural life in the country.

During Tuesday, about 20,000 people gathered in protests in the capital Bratislava to demand, among other things, the resignation of the Minister of Culture.

The protests were organised by the opposition parties Progressive Slovakia and Freedom and Solidarity.

– The ruling coalition and Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova are crossing all the lines. Michal Simkovicova, leader of the Slovak Socialist Progressive Liberal Party, told Reuters news agency that Simkovicova had decided to destroy national cultural institutions and had fired competent directors for no reason.

It has damaged Slovak property.

The Slovak Ministry of Culture wrote on its website that the dismissal of directors was “a common practice after a change of government and in full accordance with the law.”

Culture Minister Martina Simkovićova also said at a press conference that the managers' management had failed and had damaged Slovak property.

She believes the opposition and the media want to undermine her authority, according to Reuters.