Fund for the Support of the Arts postpones leadership election

The Council of the Fund for the Support of the Arts (FPU) has postponed the election of its new chairperson to a future meeting. The decision follows the resignation of former chairperson Matúš Oľha on July 23, 2026. The Council is currently being led temporarily by Vice-chairman Ľubomír Kleštinec.

The leadership change follows allegations of illegal wiretapping within the FPU premises. Employees reportedly discovered listening devices intended to monitor staff and have handed the devices and recordings over to the police and the District Prosecutor's Office in Bratislava I.

Matúš Oľha has characterized the wiretapping allegations as a ‘media campaign’ and a ‘purposeful action’ aimed at discrediting the current leadership. He suggested that the activist group ‘Otvorená kultúra’ is behind the situation to undermine the fund's activities. Meanwhile, FPU Acting Director František Kornaj stated that the fund was not notified of the surveillance by employees but pledged full cooperation with law enforcement authorities.