"In this system, everyone was a political appointee" – the president of the Hungarian Music Council on the cultural policy of the NER

Zsoldos Dávid, president of the Hungarian Music Council, criticized the cultural policies of the NER, highlighting failures due to political loyalty overshadowing professionalism. He pointed out the poor selection process and the shift of the best acoustically equipped theater to a musical theater, arguing that musicals should stand on their own. Zsoldos suggested that the cultural budget issues could have been avoided with better context and transparency. He proposed a sustainable funding model based on institutional frameworks and open grant systems. He also criticized state support for certain artists, claiming it undermines genuine musicians.