Category Archives: Slovakia

The Slovak liberal and libertarian Freedom and Solidarity party (known by its Slovak abbreviation as SaS), made new proposals regarding Roma policies. These were sharply criticised by Abel Ravasz, the Plenipotentiary of the Government of the Slovak Republic for Roma Communities as not reflecting the current reality and not taking into account that many of these proposals were already put in place.

– Rómska reforma SaS je neaktuálna, myslí si splnomocnenec Ravasz. In: SME Domov. 10.01.2018. https://domov.sme.sk/c/20733695/romska-reforma-sas-je-neaktualna-mysli-si-splnomocnenec-ravasz.html [link-preview url=”https://domov.sme.sk/c/20733695/romska-reforma-sas-je-neaktualna-mysli-si-splnomocnenec-ravasz.html”]

Difficult to say what and who, but a fight between a German, some Slovaks and Roma about a flat screen TV – together with accusations of theft – required a police intervention.
Who did what is truly unclear, but in the mind of the readers, there will be little doubts …

– Brandhaus in Plauen. Slwaken rufen Polizei zur Hilfe. In: Vogtlang Anzeiger. 08.01.2018. http://vogtland-anzeiger.de/Vogtland_Anzeiger/cms-nachrichten/plauen/brandhaus-in-plauen-slowaken-rufen-polizei.html [link-preview url=”http://vogtland-anzeiger.de/Vogtland_Anzeiger/cms-nachrichten/plauen/brandhaus-in-plauen-slowaken-rufen-polizei.html”]

An analysis of the rise of the Neo Nazi movement in Slovakia. Long ignored, even when its propaganda led to murder of Roma as in Žilina in 2000, they now sit in the Slovak Parliament.
Bad.

– Rok 2013: Ľudia dali prednosť fašizmu pred Smerom. In: SME. 08.01.2018. https://domov.sme.sk/c/20722118/rok-2013-ludia-dali-prednost-fasizmu-pred-smerom.html#ixzz53fKtqp9X [link-preview url=”https://domov.sme.sk/c/20722118/rok-2013-ludia-dali-prednost-fasizmu-pred-smerom.html#ixzz53fKtqp9X”]

Milan Mazurek of Kotleba LSNS party is facing not only a high fine, but also a premature departure from the national parliament. And all because of his derogatory statements on Roma, immigrants, or Muslims that he made on Radio Frontinus on October last year.
Slow progress but progress nevertheless.

– Poslancovi ĽSNS Mazurekovi hrozí, že v parlamente skončí. In: Atkuality. 22.12.2017. https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/549933/poslancovi-lsns-mazurekovi-hrozi-ze-v-parlamente-skonci/ [link-preview url=”https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/549933/poslancovi-lsns-mazurekovi-hrozi-ze-v-parlamente-skonci/”]

62% of the Slovaks would not want Roma neighbours… They are worse off than Moslems (54%), migrants (43%) and homosexuals (37%).
No surprise, unfortunately.

– Slováci to dali najavo jasne: Za susedov najčastejšie nechceme Rómov, moslimov či homosexuálov. In: Novy Čas. 18.12.2017. https://www.cas.sk/clanok/634463/slovaci-to-dali-najavo-jasne-za-susedov-najcastejsie-nechceme-romov-moslimov-ci-homosexualov/ [link-preview url=”https://www.cas.sk/clanok/634463/slovaci-to-dali-najavo-jasne-za-susedov-najcastejsie-nechceme-romov-moslimov-ci-homosexualov/”]

The latest numbers of people receiving social benefits in Slovakia were published. Overall 3.17% of the population is dependent on benefits, an overall decrease since last statistic.
Well, reading these numbers somewhat differently, not all Roma in Slovakia are dependent of social benefits.
In fact, in an earlier statistic published by the Slovak government, the majority of social benefits goes to non-Roma…

– Potešujúce štatistiky. Počet poberateľov sociálnych dávok klesá. In: Aktualne. 20.12.2017. https://aktualne.centrum.sk/ekonomika/slovenska-ekonomika/potesujuce-statistiky-pocet-poberatelov-socialnych-davok-klesa.html [link-preview url=”https://aktualne.centrum.sk/ekonomika/slovenska-ekonomika/potesujuce-statistiky-pocet-poberatelov-socialnych-davok-klesa.html”]

Really? In Slovakia, a house in which Roma live has been bought by the municipality and will be demolished as it is a “disgrace” in the village. What about its inhabitants… Well best is that they move on.
No comments.

– Starosta Krásnej Rómov aj tak presťahuje. Radšej už neprezradí kam. In SME. 15.12.2017. https://kosice.korzar.sme.sk/c/20719249/starosta-romov-aj-tak-prestahuje-radsej-uz-vopred-neprezradi-kam.html [link-preview url=”https://kosice.korzar.sme.sk/c/20719249/starosta-romov-aj-tak-prestahuje-radsej-uz-vopred-neprezradi-kam.html”]

What have a Lynx and Roma in common: Well, in Slovakia, one lynx is roaming in a Roma neighbourhood and is getting acclimated to humans.
It may all end in a Zoo…

– Rys, ktorý desí Rómov, skončí v zoo alebo vo Francúzsku. Konať musia rýchlo. In: TV Noviny. 14.12.2017. http://www.tvnoviny.sk/domace/1898850_rys-ktory-desi-romov-skonci-v-zoo-alebo-vo-francuzsku-konat-musia-rychlo [link-preview url=”http://www.tvnoviny.sk/domace/1898850_rys-ktory-desi-romov-skonci-v-zoo-alebo-vo-francuzsku-konat-musia-rychlo”]

An article about some of the factories in Slovakia, who, faced with labour shortages decided to try to employ some of the estimated 100’000 Roma who have no job in that country.
And guess what, it works … Not always simple in the beginning, but it works!

– Firmy ukazujú, že zamestnávanie Rómov má riešenie. In: Pravda. 09.12.2017. https://profesia.pravda.sk/zamestnanie/clanok/450180-firmy-ukazuju-ze-zamestnatelnost-romov-je-riesitelna/ [link-preview url=”https://profesia.pravda.sk/zamestnanie/clanok/450180-firmy-ukazuju-ze-zamestnatelnost-romov-je-riesitelna/”]

An article on extremism, the extreme right and the worrisome involvement of young people in these movements in Slovakia.

– Extrémizmu podlieha čoraz viac mladých ľudí. In: Spravy Pravda. 06.12.2017. https://spravy.pravda.sk/domace/clanok/450271-extremizmu-podleha-coraz-viac-mladych-ludi/ [link-preview url=”https://spravy.pravda.sk/domace/clanok/450271-extremizmu-podleha-coraz-viac-mladych-ludi/”]

A lengthy article about a Roma book club in Slovakia. They record videos on the books, giving some basic information about the author, a shortened view of the plot, and what they liked about it. Idea behind it it to motivate others to read.

– Rómky o prečítaných knihách nakrúcajú videorecenzie. In: SME. 30.11.2017. https://kultura.sme.sk/c/20707596/romky-oprecitanych-knihach-nakrucaju-videorecenzie.html [link-preview url=”https://kultura.sme.sk/c/20707596/romky-oprecitanych-knihach-nakrucaju-videorecenzie.html”]

The mayor of a small village in Slovakia wants Roma to be integrated. The village is making efforts, which is good.
Let’s hope it works out.

– Starosta Gerlachova: Rómov treba začleniť do spoločnosti. In: Verbena. 23.11.2017. http://bardejov.dnes24.sk/starosta-gerlachova-romov-treba-zaclenit-do-spolocnosti-285058 [link-preview url=”http://bardejov.dnes24.sk/starosta-gerlachova-romov-treba-zaclenit-do-spolocnosti-285058″]

The mayor of a small village in Slovakia wants Roma to be integrated. The village is making efforts, which is good.
Let’s hope it works out.

– Starosta Gerlachova: Rómov treba začleniť do spoločnosti. In: Verbena. 23.11.2017. http://bardejov.dnes24.sk/starosta-gerlachova-romov-treba-zaclenit-do-spolocnosti-285058 [link-preview url=”http://bardejov.dnes24.sk/starosta-gerlachova-romov-treba-zaclenit-do-spolocnosti-285058″]

The visit of a mayor in a Roma settlement in Slovakia. Not pretty.

– Rómov v Kuzmiciach pobúril pokus starostu Krásnej: Drsný odkaz! In: TIVI. 25.11.2017. https://tivi.cas.sk/video/2513618/romov-v-kuzmiciach-poburil-pokus-starostu-krasnej-drsny-odkaz/ [link-preview url=”https://tivi.cas.sk/video/2513618/romov-v-kuzmiciach-poburil-pokus-starostu-krasnej-drsny-odkaz/”]

The visit of a mayor in a Roma settlement in Slovakia. Not pretty.

– Rómov v Kuzmiciach pobúril pokus starostu Krásnej: Drsný odkaz! In: TIVI. 25.11.2017. https://tivi.cas.sk/video/2513618/romov-v-kuzmiciach-poburil-pokus-starostu-krasnej-drsny-odkaz/ [link-preview url=”https://tivi.cas.sk/video/2513618/romov-v-kuzmiciach-poburil-pokus-starostu-krasnej-drsny-odkaz/”]

The Liberal and Libertarian Party SaS in Slovakia unveiled their plans for Roma. A new ministry for “socially excluded communities” and help linked to “merit” and willingness to do something.
One can only wonder how this will be measured …

– Politika hrubšej palice nedostane Rómov z pasce chudoby. In: SME. 16.11.2017. https://komentare.sme.sk/c/20695376/politika-hrubsej-palice-nedostane-romov-z-pasce-chudoby.html
– Nicholsonová chce nové ministerstvo pre Rómov. Vládny splnomocnenec krúti hlavou! In: Plus. 13.11.2017. https://www1.pluska.sk/Spravy/Z-domova/Nicholsonova-chce-nove-ministerstvo-pre-Romov.-Vladny-splnomocnenec-len-kruti-hlavou [link-preview url=”https://komentare.sme.sk/c/20695376/politika-hrubsej-palice-nedostane-romov-z-pasce-chudoby.html “]