AFAD's statement on the signing of the memorandum with the prime minister

AFAD's statement on the signing of the memorandum with the prime minister

The Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava learned about the signing of the memorandum on social dialogue, which, according to the wording in the media (https://e.dennikn.sk/minuta/4158226), was signed by Prime Minister Robert Fico with trade unions, employers, municipalities, churches and universities just from the media. No one discussed such an agreement with AFAD representatives. The basic standard of work at AFAD in Bratislava is to implement any decision regarding AFAD after a thorough and open internal discussion. This could not happen in this case. We do not consider it decent or acceptable for anyone to attribute votes that are not ours. The memorandum on social dialogue with Prime Minister Robert Fico was signed by the presidium of the Slovak Rector's Conference, without the knowledge of AFAD in Bratislava.

AFAD does not oppose social dialogue, on the contrary, it has been calling for such a dialogue for several months in relation to the liquidation of the infrastructure of cultural institutions and the destruction of democracy in Slovakia. However, the prerequisite for a dialogue is that the basic condition of being able to present your OWN voice and listen carefully to your partner's voice is met. We cannot consider a situation in which someone speaks for us as a dialogue.