The Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), with support from other opposition parties, is calling for an emergency session of the parliamentary Committee for Culture and Media to address the controversial transport of the bust of Cecilia Gonzaga, believed to be the work of Italian Renaissance artist Donatello.
The Christian Democratic Movement chair, Milan Majerský, stated that experts consulted by the party view the transfer as a scandal possibly involving multiple legal violations concerning the handling of rare artefacts. He also criticized Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová (SNS nominee), calling for her resignation.
The bust was moved from the Slovak National Museum – Spiš Museum in Levoča on May 29. According to the Culture Ministry, the transfer was coordinated with the museum and police and carried out for security reasons. The ministry cited the museum’s lack of adequate technical and security infrastructure to protect such a valuable 15th-century artefact.
The opposition has criticized the circumstances of the transport, alleging procedural failures and violations of legal standards for handling high-value artworks. Officials from Levoča hope the bust will eventually return to the local museum.
Source: TASR
