Babiš respects Staněk's actions, culture is the responsibility of ČSSD, he says

Prague - Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) perceives, according to the dismissed director of the National Gallery in Prague Jiří Fajt, the situation in the largest Czech collection institution focused on visual arts as serious. Fajt met with the Prime Minister today at Babiš's request and informed him primarily about the international projects that are likely to be halted. However, the Prime Minister stated on social media that culture falls under the jurisdiction of the coalition partner, namely the ČSSD, and he must respect their decision.

"I regret what has happened. However, culture is under the jurisdiction of our coalition partner, and I must respect their decision. I will definitely be keeping a close eye on how quickly they announce a transparent selection procedure for the position of director of NG," Babiš stated on Twitter.

Fajt told ČTK today that in recent days an international commission established for the planned reconstruction of the Trade Fair Palace, which is one of the government’s priority cultural investment actions, has resigned.

In the cultural community, following Fajt's dismissal, an initiative has emerged demanding the removal of Minister of Culture Antonín Staněk (ČSSD), who suddenly dismissed Fajt and the director of the Olomouc Museum of Art Michal Soukup three weeks ago. It already has nearly 6,000 signatories, but a second petition has also emerged, whose supporters want to negotiate with Staněk and are set to meet on Thursday.

"The commission informed the leadership of NGP that it is suspending its involvement in the international architectural competition," Fajt told ČTK today after the meeting with the Prime Minister. According to him, Babiš listened to his arguments, and the meeting was not the last. Earlier, Fajt told ČTK that a foreign partner canceled, among other things, a major exhibition of Indian art planned for this autumn. NGP first stated that it was continuing with all ongoing projects, but later communicated that the exhibition was too financially demanding. Fajt claims it was budgeted for.

Signatories of the petition for Staněk's removal met with Babiš and ČSSD chairman Jan Hamáček last week. The Prime Minister has so far referred to the coalition agreement, which states that the party that nominated the ministers proposes their dismissal. The day after, Hamáček told journalists that even after the meeting with the petition authors, he does not plan to propose Staňek's departure from the government. He said he is for a quick announcement of competitions for the heads of both institutions, which the petition authors reject, preferring that the selection procedure be called by a new minister.

According to ČTK information, Babiš also received a letter from the management of the Paris Centre Pompidou, which is suspending its planned cooperation with NGP. Babiš has repeatedly discussed the establishment of a Prague branch of the famous institution with the French president and the management of the Centre Pompidou, and NGP, under Fajt’s leadership, who has a years-long collaboration with this institution, was to be the Czech partner for future cooperation.

Staněk justifies the dismissal of both directors by their shortcomings identified by ministerial inspections in the mentioned institutions. In Fajt's case, Staněk criticized especially the authorship contract, which allowed Fajt to earn approximately one million crowns over 16 months in addition to his director's salary for preparing exhibitions; similar contracts are also concluded by other directors of state contribution organizations, mentioned the director of the National Theatre Jan Burian.