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In October 2023, former Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, who resigned in 2018, won in a parliamentary election and was re-elected as Prime Minister. Fico was the political leader of Smer-SD, a left-wing populist and nationalist political party with “social democratic” values. Smer created a coalition with Hlas-SD and the Slovak National Party (SNS). Hlas-SD is a social democratic party that works toward traditional goals within the welfare state but takes a more conservative position on social issues. SNS is a right-wing social conservative party that holds ultranationalist views. In the months following the election, the Fico government ‘cut off‘ communication with multiple media outlets, signaling the beginning of their suppression of the media.
The suppression of media also comes after the alteration of Radio and Television Slovakia (RTVS), Slovakia’s public broadcaster. The Fico government passed the Act on Slovak Television and Radio, renaming the broadcaster the Slovak Television and Radio (STVR) and placing it under the control of the government. Slovakian media also shifted back to communicating with Russia. Previously, Slovakia had halted interaction with Russia after they invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Slovakia and Jan Kuciak
The suppression of journalists and media echoes the concerns that existed in Slovakia in 2018. In February 2018, Jan Kuciak was an investigative journalist who had been researching potential corruption that spread across the governments of the European Union. He and his fiancée were both killed because of his work, which triggered large-scale protests across Europe. The unrest led to the resignation of parts of Slovakia’s government during the period, including the then-Prime Minister, Robert Fico.
The ousting of Prime Minister Fico in 2018 illustrates his current motivation to dismantle journalists’ outputs and broadcast news. Presently, his government has ‘disbanded the Special Prosecutor’s Office‘ creating further difficulty to protect journalists as there aren’t governmental organs for their security. The alteration of the RTVS has ‘potentially [compromised] its editorial independence‘ as its board is made up of political appointees rather than experts. Further changes to media freedom in Slovakia have caused less legal protection for journalists and increased violence.
The chairman of Slovak Matice Marián Gešper with the Minister of Culture Martina Šimkovičova, the opening of the Matej Bel memorial room (Source: Public Domain–Licensed under CC0 1.0 Universal)
The Culture Minister and Artistic Freedom
Fico appointed a member from SNS named Martina Šimkovičová, as the Minister of Culture. Šimkovičová, a former media personality, had previously been relieved of her position after posting hateful statements targeting Syrian refugees. She continues to spout hateful comments targeted at the LGBTI+ community under the guise of protecting traditional Slovakian culture. Her speaking points are then implemented within the policies of the ministry. The result is the exclusion of art created by persons in the LGBTI+ community, such as the ending of funds to an annual festival called Drama Queer. These political movements by Šimkovičová are illustrations of homophobia and transphobia being expressed by Fico’s government.
The actions by the Minister of Culture have been aimed at the dismantling of key cultural institutions. This is done by holding funding from art and education programs, which then stops the production of events and art. Kunsthalle Bratislava is a primary example of this action by Šimkovičová. Kunsthalle Bratislava is a historic institution of art that was established in 1958, where an ‘inclusive communal space’ can be cultivated with consistent collaboration as there is no permanent exhibition. However, the Culture Ministry revoked funding as Kunsthalle Bratislava was a consistent collaborator with the LGBTI+ community. Šimkovičová expressed that the “parasitizing” of money by the LGBTI+ community would end. This statement and actions are consistent with her rejection and attack on the expression of marginalized communities. However, she frames her policies as an appeal to a return to national identity. The defunding of Kunsthalle Bratislava led to the resignation of the director, Jen Kratocvhil. The halls management was passed to the Slovak National Gallery. Other institutions, including those within the Ministry of Culture, such as the Institute of Cultural Policy, were completely closed under the guise of saving money.
The cultural institutions of Slovakia are also being hollowed out through the removal of professional staff who are replaced with political appointments. The independence of these institutions is integral for artistic freedom in Slovakia, as art is a cross-cultural medium. Yet, Šimkovičová and her ministry expressed that “Slovak culture must be Slovak and nothing else.” Xenophobic positions like this have contributed to a string of dismissals, such as the removal of the head of the children’s art gallery called Bibiana, or the replacement of leadership at the Slovak National Gallery. The National Gallery serves as one of the most important cultural institutions in the country. Since the appointment of Šimkovičová, it has undergone numerous leadership changes, beginning with Alexandra Kusá’s dismissal. The appointment of Jaroslav Niňaj brought about calls from over a hundred employees threatening to quit. This employee dissent is sourced from the ‘hostile work environment…” full of intimidation threats, and investigations”‘. The protests and collective movement against the appointment of Niňaj have had external effects, where some non-governmental funders are pausing their commitments.
Art-Funding
The Fico Government has also altered legislation, where more control is given to the government to fund art. This is through the amendment to the Act on the Fund for the Support of Art. More changes have come about through the increasing of members on the board brought about by appointments from the Minister of Culture. In the past,the expert commission would research projects and recommend an allocation of funds that the director would need to approve. Now, the board has final say. These actions have led to expert knowledge on arts and culture being devalued and dismissed. Artists and cultural institutions are currently in a state of unease as there is an absence of stability. Questions of funding and secure positions are prevalent throughout the artistic scene in Slovakia. Self-censorship has also become prevalent amongst artists because of the discrimination against those that are not conform to Šimkovičová’s calls to return to normal.
There is an opposition by Open Culture! fighting against the regressive actions of Šimkovičová and Fico’s government. Open Culture! started the “Culture Strike” in September of 2024, working towards ‘three…demands: good governance, fair payment, and an end to political censorship’. The strike is taking the form of ‘large demonstrations’ or ‘various performances’. Open Culture! stated that ‘the collective turning of backs on the current director of the Slovak National Gallery’ resonated well with their work to fight against repression. Their work has also included creating ‘reports on the failures of the Ministry of Culture’. The work being done by Open Culture! and the Culture Strike continues in 2025.
Questions:
- What is protecting the cultural and artistic institutions in your country?
- How are the attacks on artistic and cultural institutions affecting marginalized communities as well as others?
- Can there be an effective remedy to return to an open culture within Slovakia?
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