The Hungarian Alliance welcomed the fact that due to controversy surrounding the selection of the state Minority Cultural Fund’s (KKA) new director, members of the Minority Government Council have now also turned to the Prosecutor General’s Office to nullify the results. According to the Hungarian Alliance, their step underscores the existence of broader societal concerns about the Ministry of Culture’s procedures and policies.

At an August 4 press conference in front of the Prosecutor General’s office, the Hungarian Alliance delegation – Zoltán Cziprusz, László Gubík and Örs Orosz – reiterated that the KKA’s annual budget of 8.8 million euros supports the cultural, scientific and artistic initiatives of national and ethnic communities. Therefore, the closed-door selection of the new director, which excluded professional representatives, the press and the members of the institution itself, is particularly egregious, they emphasized. On July 30, Cultural Minister Šimkovičová announced Ján Štovka’s selection. For details ont he key complaints regarding the hiring see. 

“It is encouraging that other minority organizations are now also firmly standing up against the Ministry of Culture’s non-transparent hiring process. It is reassuring that representatives of the Roma, Rusyn, Jewish, Goral and German communities share the Hungarian Alliance’s position. We believe that only joint, coordinated action can preserve the independence and prestige of our cultural institutions in the future,” emphasized party president László Gubík.

According to the Hungarian Alliance, the scandal surrounding the tender is not an isolated case but part of an ongoing pattern by the Ministry of Culture detrimental to national minority interests. These include plans to increase language law restrictions as well as the proposed merger of minority museums.

We cannot allow centralization to come at the expense of diversity,” Gubík added.The party also indicated that in the near future it will invite representatives of national and ethnic communities for a consultation to protect each’s cultural autonomy.

Source: Ma7,Ujszo

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