Hello. Here is theTuesday, August 6edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Culture minister fires national theatre director
Former SND director Matej Drlička and Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová. (source: TASR)
Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová (nominated by the nationalist Slovak National Party) has dismissed Matej Drlička from his position as general director of the Slovak National Theatre.
The minister sent an official and two bodyguards to deliver the news to Drlička personally. Šimkovičová herself posted the reasons for the dismissal on the social media platform Telegram, including an incident involving a chandelier falling during a performance at the national theatre.
Drlička, who had led the theatre since 2021, recently received a prestigious honour in France.
The opposition has condemned the minister’s move as an attack on artists and labelled the minister as a “destroyer of culture”.
“Her ‘reign’ at the Culture Ministry will be remembered only for spreading hoaxes, embarrassing appearances on conspiracy YouTube channels, vanity, harassment of artists, attacks on citizens, incompetence, and the devastation of the public broadcaster RTVS, the Slovak Arts Council, and now the national theatre,” wrote Branislav Gröhling, leader of the opposition party Freedom and Solidarity.
Last week, Šimkovičová faced public humiliation when she was booed at a folklore festival in Terchová, northern Slovakia. She has also recently been criticised for disrespecting Slovak traditional dress.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE
Police: Slovakia’s National Crime Agency (NAKA), which investigates major crimes such as corruption and terrorism, is set to be dismantled by the end of August.
Business: In the Myjava region’s kopanice, known for its plum and fruit trees used in brandy production, entrepreneurs Mariana Turáková and Ľuboš Straka are working to preserve this tradition.
Investigation: Martina Babacsová, the third head of the Gorilla corruption case investigation, has announced her departure from the police force.
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TRAVEL STORY
Why visit Myjava
The Zemans own a lavender farm in the village of Poriadie in the Myjava region. (source: Courtesy of Violet Hill)
Our colleague Jozef Ryník recently explored the Myjava district, located near the Czech border, to uncover what the area offers visitors. Join him as he takes you on a tour of a lavender farm and a local distillery.
EVENT
Celebrate the Roma
Young Roma talents during a performance. (source: Divé maky)
For 19 years, the non-profit organisation Divé maky has been dedicated to nurturing young Roma talent. This Saturday, they are hosting a gala evening in downtown Bratislava (Hviezdoslavovo námestie), which will bring a unique Roma spirit and a wealth of inspiring stories to the city centre.
Admission is free. The event starts at 18:00.
IN OTHER NEWS
Prominent figures from the cultural scene have launched a public online petition calling for the immediate dismissal of Martina Šimkovičová from her position as culture minister. They write: “In nearly a year in office, she has offered nothing but the destruction of the entrusted department.”
The Slovak Environmental Inspectorate, in connection with the helicopter flight over the Malá Fatra National Park, found a violation of the Nature and Landscape Protection Act. The helicopter was carrying Deputy Environment Minister Filip Kuffa. (SITA)
Education and human rights experts are urging Education Minister Tomáš Drucker (Hlas) to halt the pilot project for Rakúsy’s first Roma school.
The young man who pointed a replica gun at Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok (Hlas) at a fair in Stropkov, eastern Slovakia, last week had previously served time in prison for manslaughter. In May 2020, at the age of 15, he fatally beat a man.
The police are re-investigating the call for the resignation of Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová, which was signed by 188,000 people at the beginning of this year. The minister had questioned the validity of the petition. Initially, the police closed the case after two months, stating there were no grounds for criminal proceedings. The minister has now approached the police again, requesting further investigation into the matter. (Denník N)
The trial of businessman Marian Kočner, known for the Donovaly and Báč cases, began at the Specialised Criminal Court in Banská Bystrica on August 6, 2024. In the photo, Marian Kočner (left), who is considered the mastermind behind the murder of journalist Ján Kuciak, is seen in the courtroom on Tuesday. His lawyer and PM Robert Fico’s advisor Marek Para sits on the right. The court had to adjourn the trial until August 15. Kočner was the only one to come to the trial in person. (source: TASR)
WEATHER FOR WEDNESDAY: Expect mostly clear to partly cloudy skies on Wednesday, with occasional cloud cover. During the day, temperatures will reach between 27°C and 32°C, with cooler conditions around 25°C in the northern regions. (SHMÚ)
AUGUST 7 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Štefánia
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