Good evening. Here is the Wednesday, August 7 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Slovak National Gallery director dismissed
Former Slovak National Gallery director Alexandra Kusá. (source: SME - Jozef Jakubčo)
Following the ouster of the Slovak National Theatre director Matej Drlička on Tuesday, Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová removed the director of the Slovak National Gallery (SNG), Alexandra Kusá. Denník N daily broke the news on Wednesday.
Kusá was the director since 2010 and successfully finished the large-scale reconstruction of the gallery, which received several prestigious awards. According to her, she received the letter of dismissal at work and accepted it. However, the letter contained no explanation.
"The reasons are simple, the minister does not want to work with me," Kusá told Sme daily.
In a statement, the ministry later cited "managerial failures" as the reason, criticising in particular the reconstruction, mismanaging public finances, failing to use the SNG premises effectively, and ignoring artists from Slovakia and not exhibiting their work. When it comes to finances, the ministry points to arts festival Venice Biennale, for which €300,000 were allocated, but the ministry considers the presentation "inappropriate". Šimkovičová went on to call it as an "anti-Slovak activity" as part of its opening included critique of the ministry.
"What the ministry presented when it comes to reasons for my dismissal attacks and offends not only me, but also those have tried and are trying to move SNG forward," said Kusá later on Wednesday said in regards to the ministry's statement.
In the meantime, the ministry has tasked crisis manager Anton Bittner with management of the gallery. Kusá will work as a curator in the gallery. Learn more here.
Related: Opposition party SaS claimed that Slovak National Museum (SNM) director Branislav Panis will be dismissed next. However, he said he has not received any letter and is currently on vacation abroad.
Related:A petition launched on Tuesday calling for the immediate dismissal of Martina Šimkovičová from her position as culture minister has garnered more than 100,000 signatures at the time of writing.
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FEATURE STORY
The lowest standard of living in Europe?
(source: SME - Marko Erd)
The fact that Slovaks earn little is not just a subjective feeling, but a statistical fact. Among the V4 countries, Slovaks and Hungarians earn the least; Czechs and Poles have significantly outpaced both. Slovaks pay even more for food than the average European. However, some data and interpretations of Slovak wages should be taken with a grain of salt.
EVENT FOR THE WEEKEND
Calling all boat builders
Last year's edition of the Veľká Vlna Fantázie competition. (source: TASR)
On Sunday, all crazy and creative boat builders will descend upon Bratislava's Veľký Draždiak lake as the Veľká Vlna Fantázie (Big Fantasy Wave) competition is back. In other words, if you ever wanted to try whether your idea of a boat will float, this is the place to be. Bring your family, friends, colleagues and see how long will you stay dry. At the end of the day, local favourites Medial Banana will perform. Find out more about the programme here.
IN OTHER NEWS
Legally convicted former special prosecutor Dušan Kováčik, one of the most powerful persons in the state under successive Smer governments, was released after more than two years in prison on Wednesday afternoon. Justice Minister Boris Susko (Smer) has filed an appeal in his case on the basis of the defence lawyer's motion, which he found to be well-founded. He also ordered the suspension of the sentence pending the decision of the Supreme Court on the appeal. In May 2022, the Supreme Court sentenced Kováčik to eight years in prison for accepting a bribe and disclosing information from files. While PM Robert Fico (Smer) praised the decision, opposition parties lambasted it, saying it is a proof that the government is helping criminals and that it only cares about ensuring impunity for itself and people affiliated to it. (TASR)
The Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMÚ) is expecting another heat wave to hit Slovakia next week as very warm, tropical air will begin to flow into Slovakia from the west-southwest, meteorologists report on social media. Temperatures might rise to 37 °C next Wednesday especially in the southwestern Slovakia. (SHMÚ)
With the exception of parts of northwestern and northeastern Slovakia, most of its terriroty is experiencing drought of various intensity, and has been persisting for 20 to 30 days so far in most of monitored localities. The Záhorie region as well as the town of Prievidza, western Slovakia, face extreme drought, while severe drought has affected the rest of western Slovakia, south of Banská Bystrica Region and most of Košice Region. (TASR)
Ladislav Lipták, one of the most wanted Slovaks, was caught in Belize. Local police carried out a raid in the town of Dangriga, securing 200 kilograms of cannabis and 170 grams of cocaine and detained four people, including the Slovak. In 2020, an European arrest warrant was issued for Lipták in connection with a drug bust known as Operation Tower. However, he has been avoiding justice. (Topky)
Slovak race walkers Dominik Černý and Hana Burzalová kissed after the marathon race walk mixed relays. Even though they set a new Slovak record of 3:03:54, they placed 18th. (source: TASR)
WEATHER FOR THURSDAY: Throughout the day the cloud cover will increase, showers and rain expected locally especially in the western and northern part of the country. Daily temperatures will rise to between 22 °C to 31 °C. (SHMÚ)
AUGUST 8 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Oskar
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