Staněk will prepare tenders for the heads of NGP and MUO

Prague - The situation at the Ministry of Culture regarding the recent dismissal of the directors of the National Gallery Prague (NGP) Jiří Fajt and the Museum of Art Olomouc (MUO) Michal Soukup was discussed today with the participation of Minister of Culture Antonín Staněk (ČSSD) by the members of the cultural subcommittee and the narrow leadership of the ČSSD. The party's committee tasked the minister with preparing selection procedures for both positions by the end of May and calming the situation. Staněk had attempted to do this earlier today by meeting with representatives of the petition, which was signed by approximately 500 people. The minister promised them that by the end of May he would establish an expert council and call for selection procedures by the end of June.

During the morning meeting of the parliamentary subcommittee for culture, Staněk pointed out some other criticisms he has towards the NGP. These concern, for example, external legal contracts worth approximately 6.3 million crowns. The subcommittee expressed doubts about the adequacy and justification of his actions in its resolution and also strongly requested him to ensure a transparent process for filling the director positions, in consultation with the professional public. It also recommended the adoption of a law on public institutions in culture, which would address, among other things, a new manner of predictable appointment and dismissal of directors.

The Social Democracy tasked its minister with preparing selection procedures by the end of May. Calls for the minister's resignation, according to the chairman of the ČSSD Jan Hamáček, were not made during the party committee meeting, nor was there a vote of confidence in the minister. Hamáček admits to the possibility of an international selection procedure, and according to him, the ministry should be prepared to offer dissatisfied petitioners a place in the selection committee. The Social Democracy nominated Staněk to the government, and according to the coalition agreement, it should decide on his possible dismissal. This is also confirmed by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO).

Staněk also met with the petitioners today. Besides the deadlines regarding the selection procedure, he promised that he would continue establishing administrative councils, which would stand between him and the institution itself and correct similar solutions in the future, said the director of the Jindřich Chalupecký Society Karina Kottová. If the minister fails to meet the deadlines for establishing the expert council and announcing the selection procedure, the petitioners will again strive for his resignation. The authors of the second petition with nearly 6000 signatures are demanding his immediate resignation. According to them, the minister is discredited, lacks the trust of artists, and is not considered a partner for negotiations.

In mid-April, Staněk dismissed Fajt and Soukup following inspections of the institutions they led. He filed criminal complaints against Fajt and two former directors of MUO, Soukup and his predecessor Pavel Zatloukal: against Fajt regarding a copyright contract worth 1.2 million crowns or due to long-term rental agreements concluded by the NGP; the complaints regarding the directors of the Olomouc museum concern the verification of the purchase of overpriced land in the past.