...Despite internal disagreement

Speaking on Radio Twist on July 31, Oľga Šalagová, state secretary at the Culture Ministry, distanced herself from Culture Minister Ivan Hudec's controversial steps to merge Slovakia's theaters and make personnel changes. Although Šalagová said she recognized the need for change, she stressed that "we certainly could have found an easier path than that chosen by Hudec. I do not agree with it, and I distance myself from such actions. It is necessary to speak with our artists." She added that despite her position, she is "not allowed" to deal with the issue. Hudec told Slovenská Republika that the actors at the Slovak National Theater - several of whom announced their resignations as a result of recent personnel changes - are behaving like "privileged children of the revolution."