The proposal is part of ?The Culture of Freedom?, a proposal for the state?s role in Hungary?s cultural life in 2006-2020, published in the official journal Kulturális Közlöny in April.
Asked why the strategy had been published in April, the same month as Hungary?s general elections, Bozóki replied that an earlier proposal had served as an introduction to the strategy and he had been warned about publishing the strategy in the midst of the election campaign. He added that the text had been available as early as January. Bozóki noted that he intended the strategy to become a standard point of reference, regardless of who becomes the minister of culture in the new government?s cabinet.
Bozóki told the conference the government?s decision to withhold one-fourth of its budget was a ?shock?, but the minister had accepted the measure without resigning because he did not wish to evade the situation.
Bozóki said he continued to regard fairness, equal opportunity and freedom of choice as basic principles since taking office more than a year ago.
Culture is a living social practice, and, ideally, it should be an active field, Bozóki said. This does not mean rejecting high culture, but leveling the playing field, he added.
Bozóki said he supported measures that would reduce the number of National Culture Fund board members and merge the activities of certain boards.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI)
