Gustáv Murín. (source: TASR)
Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová’s reshuffling of leaders across Slovak cultural institutions continues to provoke outrage. Following controversial changes at the National Gallery, National Museum, and Bibiana, the spotlight has now turned to the Slovak Literary Centre.
The ministry defends these appointments as measures to ensure the “smooth running” of organisations. Yet, the dismissal of Pavel Sibyla, the centre’s former director, has left many unconvinced, writes daily Sme. Sibyla, who had notified the ministry months earlier of his upcoming parental leave, proposed his deputy, Marek Vadas—a respected colleague with 12 years of experience—to step in during his absence. Instead, the role was handed to Gustáv Murín, a writer whose controversial past includes ties to conspiracy platforms.
Murín, known for his books on the Slovak mafia—mainly compilations of media reports—and frequent contributions to pro-Kremlin outlets, has faced widespread criticism. Dozens of authors have signed an open letter labelling him a “threat to the reputation of Slovak literature.”
Former director Miroslava Vallová, who knows Murín personally, was scathing in her assessment. “Given the kind of people currently appointed to key positions in this country, Gustáv Murín’s appointment is hardly surprising,” she told Sme. “But in terms of the demands of caring for literature as an extraordinarily sensitive art form, it is a dreadful misstep.”
Questionable appointments
The controversy extends beyond the Literary Centre. Critics have noted a trend of appointing unqualified individuals to key cultural posts. At the Monuments Board, for instance, an experienced director was replaced by an archaeologist with a revoked licence and a questionable reputation.
Sibyla’s dismissal has also raised legal concerns. Legal expert and fired Foreign Affairs Ministry employee Ivan Novotný noted that, under Slovakia’s Labour Code, Sibyla’s formal notification of his parental leave afforded him protection from dismissal. “The protection begins from the day the leave is announced, not from the actual start date,” Novotný explained.
Pavel Sibyla (source: SME - Jozef Jakubčo)
Miroslava Vallová (source: TASR)
A history of controversy
Murín’s past includes sexist comments and public attacks on Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová, whom he mockingly referred to as “Soros’s Barbie” in 2023. He has also faced criticism for polarising leadership during his tenure at the Slovak P.E.N. Centre, an organisation for poets, essayists, and novelists.
“When Murín became chair of the P.E.N. Centre, prominent members—including founders like Peter Zajac, Martin Bútora, and Jana Juráňová—left in protest,” writer and translator Stanislava Chrobáková Repar recalled, referring to the tumultuous 1990s. “He brought in allies who shared his views, driving away some of the country’s most significant literary figures.”
Chrobáková Repar also highlighted Murín’s history of misogyny and hostility towards women in his field. “He’s always struggled with intelligent women in his orbit.” His remarks and actions have consistently reflected that, according to her.
The writer, who has known Murín since the 1980s, shared Vallová’s concerns when it comes to the Literary Centre. “Murín lacks the ability to unify people with differing opinions. His leadership will likely deepen divisions and harm the reputation of the Slovak Literary Centre,” she said.
