Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová has been under fire for many months for a series of controversial decisions. She has made big changes since taking up her position. At the beginning of 2024, it renewed professional relations with Russia and Belarus, thereby ending the ban on cooperation with the East, which was introduced by the former Minister of Culture Natália Milanová as a reaction to Russian aggression in Ukraine.
In March 2024, the wave of appeals began. The director of the International House of Art for Children Bibiana Zuzana Liptáková, the general director of the Slovak National Library in Martina Katarína Krištofová, the general director of the Slovak National Theater Matej Drlička, the director of the Slovak National Gallery Alexandra Kusá and the director of the Slovak National Museum Branislav Panis all ended their positions. The opposition has several times suggested that Šimkovičová be dismissed.
The latest Ministry of Culture decided that cancels free admission to museums and galleries once a month. The situation was outraged by the daughter of presenter Alena Heriban, Babsy Jagušák Heriban, and she expressed her opinion on the social network. “Another brilliant step from the Ministry of Culture’s workshop to free us all. Where culture is not available, there will be total chaos and decay,” she did not forgive her critical words. “At least the libraries are free for now. We wanted a new batch of educational literature,” wrote the presenter and influencer.
