Blaha: We've Been Given Mandate to Make Changes in Culture As Well

Bratislava, May 10 (TASR) - The government has received a mandate to make changes also in culture, said Parliamentary Vice-Chair Lubos Blaha (Smer-SD) during the debate on the motion in Parliament to dismiss Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee), criticising the opposition. Blaha praised the minister, stating that she isn't afraid of the opposition and that she and her team are doing a good job at the ministry. He lambasted attacks on her, her family and her close friends. "This has no standard. We received a mandate a few months ago to make changes in culture as well. You lost the election," said Blaha, criticising the opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party. According to him, PS leaders are spreading hatred against Simkovicova only because she wants to "protect national culture". He sees nonsense in attempts to justify the motion for her ouster, stressing the need to support culture that has depth and national character. MP Martin Dubeci (PS) criticised the debate in the House, claiming that it isn't about culture at all. "Not a word about salaries in culture, not a word about infrastructure, not a word about the reasons given for the no-confidence motion," he stated. Zuzana Stevulova (PS), meanwhile, accused Blaha of spreading lies and hatred. am/df