Slovak Culture Minister's Fund Changes Favor Bratislava Coffee Shop Run by Former TV Makeup Artist

Slovak Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová has come under scrutiny after state cultural funds she reformed ended up supporting a Bratislava coffee shop established by a former Markíza television makeup artist. Two years ago, Šimkovičová, representing the Slovak National Party (SNS) in the ruling coalition, criticized the Arts Support Fund for allowing millions of euros to flow to Bratislava coffee drinkers who had no understanding of rural Slovakia's needs. Since taking office, she has restructured the 30-million-euro fund so that only her appointees make funding decisions. However, the money continues to flow to Bratislava projects, including the coffee shop venture. The case highlights tensions between the government's stated goal of redirecting cultural funding away from the capital toward rural areas and the actual distribution of resources under the minister's control.