20.06.2014 Miskolc: Rroma to be displaced with relocation-bonus

Pusztaranger (2014) reports on the planned extension of the local football arena into a mega stadium by the right-wing nationalist Fidesz government in Miskolc. To this end, a Rroma settlement is supposed to be removed in order to make space for a large parking lot. To incite the residents to move voluntarily into the social housing in the agglomeration, the city government gives the residents of the settlement a relocation-bonus of 1.5 to 2 million forints, approximately 4,500 to 6,000 Euros. Both the Rroma themselves, as well as the inhabitants of the surrounding villages, which are to receive the Rroma, protest against the project, albeit for entirely different reasons. While the Rroma demand living space in the city itself and do not want to be displaced outside into the agglomeration, the inhabitants of the neighbouring villages protest for racist reasons. They do not want any Rroma in their housing estates: “In the villages of the surrounding area, protest initiatives against potential newcomers from Miskolc have already been started; in the community Sátoraljaújhely, by decree, they are denied any social benefits and public employment measures for up to five years (Nol); in Ónod, an arson attack on a house inhabited by Roma was recently carried out, after the Fidesz mayor had spoken out against newcomers in the media.” In so-called “site visits”, Jobbik representatives control the documents of the Rroma and agitate against the minority.