Scandalous ad: Ministry of Culture seeks a "culture adviser" with only an economics degree

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism, during the summer season, published an advertisement to hire two special advisers in the Minister's Cabinet — one "adviser for legal affairs" and one "culture adviser" — with an application deadline of only three days. The Ministry, which already has 17 state advisers, proposes a basic net salary of 60,000 denars for the new cabinet positions, the party Levica reported.

Short application period, long selection process

Levica states that candidates must submit originals or notarized copies within three days, while the selection can take 45, 90 or 120 days. This implies that citizens have three days to apply, while the Ministry has up to four months to choose the candidate.

The party asks why the advertisement was published precisely during the period of summer and collective vacations, when many potential candidates are away from workplaces and institutions, and why the deadline is so short. It especially criticizes the fact that the position of "culture adviser" does not require qualifications from the field of culture, but rather "a degree in economics, specifically in the field of international economic relations."

Levica points out that it gives the impression the advertisement was published more to satisfy the formality of an already pre-made staffing decision than to attract the most qualified candidate for matters of cultural policy, museums, theaters, music, contemporary art and publishing.

Given that the Ministry already has 17 state advisers, the party questions exactly what the new advisers will be advising on and why the existing advisers are not sufficient. Instead of rational use of the existing staff and strengthening expertise within institutions, the press release adds, the creation of new cabinet positions continues, which raises suspicions of partisan placement and rewarding "deserving" personnel.

"State institutions should be in the service of the people, and not of narrow party interests," Levica concludes, appealing for transparent and fair procedures in job announcements and deadlines that will allow the realistic participation of interested and qualified candidates.

Photo: press material from the event