Teachers march on Obchodná Street (source: SITA)
When organisers of teachers’ protests were looking for places in central Bratislava to stage a protest July 1 they were surprised. All the major squares and streets were booked by the Lovu zdar (Hail to Hunting) firm. Thus teachers could not make it to the Reduta building in downtown Bratislava where the opening ceremonies of Slovakia’s presidency over the EU Council took place.
Teachers organised protests to point to Slovakia not fulfilling the EU’s recommendations related to the education system.
“We wanted to be as close as possible,” Mária Rothensteinová of the Slovak Teachers Initiative told Sme daily.
Despite Lovu zdar booking several squares, no one appeared, thus raising questions whether Lovu zdar -- which is close to the ruling party Smer -- is not trying to intentionally block teachers’ protests.
The firm's head Zsolt Puha responded that Lovu zdar organised July 1 event to raise awareness on illegal dumping.
“The gathering was not politically motivated nor supported by other organisations,” Puha told Sme daily.
