Knížák wants Herman to dismiss the head of the National Gallery, Fajt

Prague - Former head of the National Gallery in Prague, Milan Knížák, demands that Minister of Culture Daniel Herman (KDU-ČSL) immediately dismiss Jiří Fajt from the position of General Director of the NG. If he does not do so, he wants Herman to resign. Knížák stated this in an open letter to the Minister of Culture, which is available to ČTK. He also sent it to the President and three other highest constitutional officials.
    Knížák claims that Fajt does not understand the operation of the art museum, is dismissing long-time employees, and is allegedly indebting the gallery. According to Fajt, these are nonsensical accusations that cannot even be responded to. "The gallery is not in debt. It's nonsense, absurd, and always the same," Fajt replied in relation to Knížák's long-standing criticism.
    The spokesperson for the Minister of Culture, Simona Cigánková, told ČTK that Herman has not had a chance to familiarize himself with the letter yet, as he is currently at an off-site government meeting in Ostrava. Therefore, he will respond on Thursday.
     Knížák stated that he has already urged Herman several times to dismiss Fajt. "I warned him even before Fajt took office. He did not respond to that. After the last incident, which was really ridiculous and undignified, I wrote this letter, which is a summary of several letters I had written to him before," Knížák told ČTK today.
    The Supreme Audit Office stated on Monday that dozens of collection items are missing from the NG. During an inventory that was completed in 2012, the gallery could not find, for example, 31 drawings, which include works by Josef Lada, František Kupka, or Jan Zrzavý. The NKÚ audited the management from 2012 to 2014. According to Fajt, the findings of the NKÚ are the result of a poorly set internal control system and relate to the previous management.
    Knížák led the gallery for nearly eleven years. He was dismissed in May 2011 and replaced by Vladimír Rösel. Fajt was among Knížák's major critics and left the gallery shortly after Knížák took office. They are still in litigation. Fajt has been the director since July 1, 2014; prior to that, the gallery was temporarily led by Vít Vlnas.