Mayor of Trenčín Richard Rybníček on Wednesday, he expressed serious concern on Facebook about the uncertain future of the Pohoda festival at the Trenčín airport. He pointed out that two representatives of the Ministry of Defense of the Slovak Republic in the supervisory board of the Trenčín Aviation Repair Center have not yet supported the extension of the contract with the organizers for further years, while the decision is supposed to be postponed until September.
Rybníček considers this approach strange, especially since other events taking place at the same place, including the Grape festival, already have contracts for future editions signed without any problems. The mayor of Trenčín described such a procedure by the state as absurd and extremely risky, since an event of international format requires at least a year of preparation and uncertainty can have serious consequences.
According to him, Pohoda, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, is not only a huge economic benefit, but also an important partner of the Trenčín 2026 European Capital of Culture project. “Therefore, one cannot avoid the feeling that it may not only be bureaucracy or indecision, but also politics and the effort to create pressure for a free and independent festival.” said Rybníček in his statement.
In response to the situation, the mayor publicly called on the Minister of Defense Robert Kaliňák to explain why his department is blocking the agreement with Pohoda. According to him, the possible displacement of the festival from the airport would damage the international reputation and the very name of the city of Trenčín. Rybníček is convinced that the public will recognize the political pressure on free culture and will not put up with the fact that the festival would be lost only because of the displeasure of the temporary government. “I still believe that common sense will prevail,” he added in conclusion.
Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák (Smer-SD) said after Wednesday’s exit meeting of the government in Haniska that the mayor has incorrect information and nothing is concluded. Currently, the company’s production program is expanding, and it is questionable whether there will be room for Pohoda.
The minister stated that with the expansion of operations, it is natural for companies to stop renting out their premises for private events. “Remember, in 2004, the last aviation festival was held at the Bratislava airport. Because the combination of civil traffic and the aviation festival was no longer sustainable. It was also only two days. But it simply could not be done anymore. Like today, we probably wouldn’t be able to hold aviation days at the Bratislava airport anymore. And today not even in Košice,” he recalled. According to him, Pohoda has several other possibilities. For example, the airport in Žilina or Piešťany.
Stop sign for a famous artist
After this information circulated on the Internet, the musician and politician spoke out on the social network Dorota Nvotová. “It’s not a political festival… it’s not, because I’m banned there. I believe so. For years, unkind tongues have been honoring Pohoda with labels like a political festival or a political song festival… well, they couldn’t be further from the truth,” she wrote in the beginning of her status.
“The proof is also that since 2023, when I joined the Democrats, I have been banned from performing there as an artist. While municipal politicians and elected presidents are welcome, party members are not. And in this, Mišo (festival organizer Michal Kaščák, editor’s note) is stricter than my mother with the party when I was 15. I will not break him. And basically I respect him for that, even if I think he’s wrong. I like that he’s stuck up and won’t break the rules he’s set for himself.” added.
She emphasized that the entire criticism of Pohoda is ridiculous. “However, the fun stops when the festival is blocked by the Ministry of Defense itself. This is an intervention of power in the symbol of the city of Trenčín, an intervention in freedom, it is a normalization intervention in the beating heart of a democratic society, in which the Pohoda festival has played an important role for 30 years. However, you cannot beat Pohoda from a position of power. It defends democracy. More than the current Minister of Defense,” concluded Nvotová.
