The Olomouc Museum of Art perceives Staněk's departure as a satisfaction

Olomouc - The resignation of Culture Minister Antonín Staněk (ČSSD) is regarded by representatives of the Museum of Art in Olomouc as a significant satisfaction. His employees called for the minister’s resignation from the government already on March 21. Their negative stance against the minister intensified after the April dismissal of the then director Michal Soukup. Staněk decided to resign at the end of May. In the eyes of the cultural public, his decision to dismiss Soukup and the director of the Prague National Gallery Jiří Fajt harmed him.

"I did not believe that Minister Antonín Staněk would find enough courage to resign from this position himself," stated the former museum director Michal Soukup, who was dismissed by Staněk on April 18, in a press release. He thanked the many supporters from the public, well-known personalities, and others who stood up for the museum. "The petition announced by the DOX gallery helped us a lot. It was very important that we had this moral support," Soukup added.

The news also pleased the museum employees who organized protest actions and stood up for their director. "From the very first moment that Staněk took office as minister, it was clear that he would harm us. This became evident in full force during the audit, which took place in a very strange and stifling atmosphere. Since we have been leading this since the beginning of February, we believed that it would turn out well for us," said David Hrbek, the organizer of the museum's protest actions, today to ČTK.

After the dismissal of director Soukup, the museum joined a petition organized by representatives of the Center for Contemporary Art DOX, which has so far been signed by over 7,000 people. For next Monday, they are planning a large concert titled "Goodbye Mr. Minister" in the gap where SEFO is to be located as an action aimed against the minister of culture remaining in office. They will not cancel the concert. "On the contrary, the concert will be a celebration of this event with the name remaining, and it will be an undignified farewell to the minister," Hrbek added.

Museum representatives still stand by the position that the dismissal of director Soukup is invalid, referring to the interpretation of lawyers. The Ministry of Culture, however, denies this. "Regarding my position at the Museum of Art in Olomouc, I must point out that my dismissal is invalid as I have not yet received it. It will be up to the new leadership of the ministry to assess this situation, as the reasons for my dismissal were representative," Soukup added. He also pointed out that the minister had filed a criminal complaint against him and his predecessor Pavel Zatloukal. "So far, the police have not contacted us, so we do not know the contents of the complaint," Soukup added.

Today ČTK contacted the prosecutor from the Olomouc regional prosecutor's office who is dealing with the complaint. She could not yet estimate the duration of the investigation. "Cautious optimism is in order; we fear that Mr. Staněk will seek revenge. Therefore, we remain cautious until May 30 when he is set to submit his resignation because not all days are over yet," David Hrbek added.

In a letter to Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO), Staněk wrote, in addition to announcing his resignation, that he stands behind all his decisions made. He also stated that he has relieved all ministry officials who prepared public administration audits at the National Gallery Prague and the Museum of Art in Olomouc from their duty of silence and is releasing all their outputs for public assessment. "I am determined to prove that the attacks aimed at me were merely part of an incitement campaign regardless of the actual state of affairs. I wish my successor to have greater success in the position of Minister of Culture," stated Staněk, who held this position for less than a year.