Ministry says hiring of special advisers complied with law

The Ministry of Culture says the call to hire two special advisers for Minister Sedat Sulejmani's Cabinet was issued in accordance with the law and with the Finance Ministry's approval.

Ministry defends legal basis and procedure

In an official statement the ministry refers to the legal provision that allows ministers to appoint special advisers: "According to Article 22, paragraph 1, item 6 of the Law on Employees in the Public Sector, special advisers may be engaged in ministers' cabinets, whose mandate lasts until the expiry of the minister's mandate. This legal possibility has been used by previous ministers and represents a regularly foreseen mechanism to provide expert support in the work of cabinets."

The ministry adds that the vacancy was published after receiving consent from the Ministry of Finance and that the application deadline was set in line with the statutory procedure, not arbitrarily by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Officials emphasised the difference between state advisers employed in the ministry and special advisers in the minister's Cabinet, saying they are two distinct categories with different legal bases, status and duties. They quoted the ministry's position: "The number of state advisers in the Ministry does not represent an argument for disputing the legal possibility to engage special advisers in the Cabinet. Engaging experts in the Cabinet aims to provide additional expertise and professional support in the creation and implementation of policies in the field of culture and tourism," the ministry said.

The ministry also assured that all procedures are carried out within its legal competences and established rules, with the stated purpose of ensuring efficient functioning of the institution and advancing culture and tourism.

The left-wing party Levica reacted to the vacancy this morning, saying in a public statement that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism published the call in the middle of the summer season for two special advisers — one legal adviser and one adviser for culture — with an application deadline of only three days. Levica pointed out that the ministry already employs 17 state advisers, the highest administrative rank, yet seeks additional cabinet advisers with a basic net salary of 60,000 denars.

Photo: press material from the event