The general manager of the Slovak National Theatre (SND), Ondrej Šoth, handed in his resignation on Tuesday, September 20, Culture Minister Daniel Krajcer told journalists on September 21, adding that he had accepted the resignation.
Šoth explained his step by saying he wanted to calm the situation around the SND and concentrate more on his own creative activities. “Mr. Šoth is an artist who contributed a lot to Slovak culture; and I believe that my decision will end controversial and negative debates surrounding our foremost national stage,” Krajcer said, as quoted by the TASR newswire. He added that the Culture Ministry will announce a tender for the position as soon as possible; in the meantime, statutory representative Milan Vajdička will be authorised to lead the SND.
The Culture Ministry launched an audit of the SND in May, and the results led to an investigation and criminal prosecutions against persons unknown. Krajcer said he would insist that all flaws and misdeeds found at the SND be remedied, TASR reported. Auditors found several violations of internal SND rules, the law on public procurement and financial discipline. The audits concerned the period between May 1, 2010, and April 30, 2011. Ondrej Šoth became the manager of SND on May 3, 2010, after being proposed by a committee of 11 as the best of 9 candidates.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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