Tag Archives: Elections

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Roma Politics

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Roma Politics

The Democratic Union of Roma (DUR) has decided to withdraw from coalition talks with the Union of Roma of Serbia for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

The decision was made with difficulty and is not intended to oppose the Union of Roma of Serbia or its representatives.

DUR aimed to unify the Roma political scene in Serbia to present a stronger, united front for better representation in the National Assembly.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Local Elections

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Local Elections

Local elections in Dolenjska and neighboring regions in Slovenia are set for November 15, where voters from the Roma community will elect their representative to the municipal council.

Municipal electoral commissions have started announcing information regarding the candidacy for the Roma community representative, which can be determined by signatures from community members or appointed by a local Roma organization.

The upcoming elections will clarify who will take on the role of the Roma community representative in the municipal council for the term 2022-2026.

Latvia News Eastern Europe

Minorities and Politics

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Minorities and Politics

Dace Lindberga, the leader of the Rising Sun for Latvia (Latvian: Austošā Saule Latvijai ) is an ethnic nationalist and national conservative Latvian political party stated ahead of the upcoming parliemaentary elections that “We have only two ethnic minorities — Roma and Livonians — and we owe nothing to the Russians”.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Roma Politics and Serbian Elections

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Roma Politics and Serbian Elections

Roma have been waiting for over two decades for authentic representation in the Serbian Assembly and institutions that affect their lives. Historically, Roma have been viewed merely as votes for other political parties, without recognition of their own political capacity.

Movements and organizations representing the Roma community have decided to run in the elections as a coalition. The agreement, set to be signed at 2:00 PM, is being signed by the Union of Roma of Serbia, the Democratic Union of Roma, and the Civic Movement of Roma. They state that this alliance is crucial for the Roma to gain authentic representatives and to ensure the Roma community is no longer viewed merely as a reliable source of votes for other political parties.

Mihajlović emphasizes the need for the Roma community to elect their own representatives in the upcoming elections, rather than having them chosen by others.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Romani Politics

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Romani Politics

Srđan Šajn, president of the Roma Party, stated that his party is unwilling to accept conditions set by the Union of Roma of Serbia regarding coalition formation for upcoming parliamentary elections.

The Union insisted that their president, Miloš Mihajlović, must be the lead candidate, which Šajn criticized as disrespectful to the Roma community.

Šajn proposed that the top positions on any joint list should not be held by current party leaders, advocating for new, independent candidates instead.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Only?

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Only?

Over 130,000 citizens of Serbia identified as Roma in the last census, but their political influence has not been realized, leading to a call for concrete political representation in the upcoming elections on October 25. This number is definitively an understatement, as in most censuses where Roma tend not to state their ethinicity.

The article emphasizes the need for Roma voters to demand specific commitments from political parties regarding employment, education, healthcare, and anti-discrimination measures, rather than vague promises.

The legitimacy of Roma political representation is questioned, highlighting the importance of authentic minority lists versus candidates from larger parties, and the need for accountability post-elections.

Germany News Western Europe

Reactions to the AfD win in Germany

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Reactions to the AfD win in Germany

Politicians from Baden-Württemberg view the AfD’s electoral success in Saxony-Anhalt as a significant shift, with concerns about its implications for democracy and governance in Germany.

The Central Council of German Sinti and Roma expresses fears of a resurgence of nationalism and a threat to democracy, linking the AfD’s rise to historical minimization of the Nazi era.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Suspicious?

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Suspicious?

The article states that Roma from the Bujanovac municipality can seek assistance from the office of Vučić’s Roma team for a one-time financial aid of 6,000 dinars provided by the Serbian government.

The office is located on Karađorđa Petrovića Street and offers help with applications and information regarding the aid. Ibro Idić encourages interested citizens to visit the office or contact him and his team for assistance.

Isn’t that supsivious, just shortly before the elections???

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbian Elections

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Serbian Elections

According to the articles, Roma in Serbia will have the opportunity to elect authentic political representatives in the upcoming parliamentary elections, following a meeting in Belgrade where four political organizations agreed to unite their efforts.

The agreement emphasizes that the common interest of Roma should take precedence over party and personal differences, aiming to restore their political voice in the National Assembly after nearly two decades.

The initiative is seen as a significant step towards consolidating Roma political power in Serbia, with plans for further activities to connect party structures and prepare for the elections.

Well, we’re not sure about that. Roma representatives (or any minority representative) in a large parliament, have no say, unless, there is a very tight vote outcome.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbian Elections

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Serbian Elections

A meeting in Belgrade resulted in an agreement among four political organizations representing the Roma community to collaborate in the upcoming parliamentary elections. The goal is to ensure that the Roma community has authentic political representation in the Serbian Assembly after nearly two decades without it.

The president of the Union of Roma of Serbia emphasized the importance of offering the Roma citizens a choice of political options that genuinely understand their issues.

Let’s see what it brings… In several cases, Roma votes were bought on behalf of the ruling party…

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbian Elections

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Serbian Elections

The Union of Roma in Serbia announced its independent participation in the upcoming parliamentary elections, centered around the Movement of Roma in Serbia, aimed at creating a fairer and more dignified society for all citizens.

The goal is to ensure that Roma have representatives in the National Assembly of Serbia after more than two decades, allowing their voices to be heard in legislative processes.

The Movement is intended to be inclusive, gathering a broad team of Roma and other citizens who believe in improving the position of the Roma community through work and knowledge.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Politics and Roma

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Politics and Roma

The SNS (Serbian Progressive Party)  and current party in power upporting Vučić is intensifying efforts to attract Roma voters in southern Serbia, opening new offices in Leskovac, a region historically associated with the SPS (Socialist Party of Serbia).

The absence of the Roma flag in Leskovac’s SNS office raises questions about the party’s approach to representing the Roma community and whether they are being used for political gain.

The shift in political power dynamics indicates that SNS is not only targeting opposition strongholds but is also encroaching on the traditional base of its coalition partner, SPS, suggesting a weakening of the latter’s influence.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbia and Roma Voters

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Serbia and Roma Voters

Serbian opposition figure Božo Drašković made derogatory comments about Roma in Serbia, accusing them of being corrupt and selling their dignity for money.

The article criticizes the racist attitudes of the current protesters who claim to uphold European values while showing contempt for minority communities. Here they take a pro-government attitude, and amalgamate the protesters with political opposition figures.

The article highlights the failure of media hosts to condemn Drašković’s remarks, indicating, according to the article,  a broader issue of racism and discrimination against the Roma community. Well, except that even Roma say that their votes have been bought, and this by the government …

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Bulgarian Elections

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Bulgarian Elections

Boyko Borisov, leader of GERB, predicts that the Roma community will overwhelmingly support the Progressive Bulgaria party in the upcoming presidential elections, citing their influence over the voting process.

He expresses skepticism about the ability of other political parties to compete fairly under the current voting system, which he claims is controlled by the Ministry of Interior. Borisov criticizes the current government budget, calling it deceptive and suggesting that the administration is artificially lowering revenue projections despite high inflation leading to increased tax income.

Would be nicer if he were using ‘Roma’ instead of “цигани” in some of these articles, and not be so dismissive as to assume that all Roma will vote en block for his party.

  • Борисов за президентския вот: Ромският вот ще е изцяло за Прогресивна България. In: Flagman. 19.07.2026. https://www.flagman.bg/article/386096
France News Western Europe

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

Not much this week in France about Roma. A concert titled “Vent d’Est” in the South of France; the closure of acamp near Nantes will not be closed before next spring; and finally, an article about the accusation by the rightist oppposition in Nantes, that Roma were registered to vote (which by the way in legal for EU citizen to vote in local elections in France.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbian Elections

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Serbian Elections

The Roma Party announced its decision to participate in upcoming elections and is open to discussions with opposition parties for potential collaboration if there is mutual political will.

Party President Srđan Šajn emphasized their goal is not to divide the opposition but to create a broad front to defeat the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and promote a free-thinking Serbia.

Šajn criticized the SNS for not disclosing their presidential candidate and future government composition, suggesting that their allies are expected to follow orders without independent thought.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbian Elections

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Serbian Elections

Upcoming elections in Serbia raise concerns about the political participation of national minorities, particularly the Roma community, which lacks political influence despite its size and significance. Roma in Serbia face numerous challenges, including unemployment, poverty, and inadequate representation in decision-making processes.

Despite these issues being highlighted during election campaigns, post-election results often fail to meet citizens’ expectations, prompting discussions about the need for greater political engagement from the Roma community.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Scary but True

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Scary but True

In the Czech Republic during last year’s elections, a large part of the Roma population voted for Babiš and worse, for Okamura, who is openly anti-Roma (and migrants, which is ironic as he is not exactly 100% Czech, if anything like this exists).

Well, at least the recent Hungarian elections show that this can change. There, most Roma voted against Fidesz.

Montenegro News Eastern Europe

Montenegro and Roma Representation

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Montenegro and Roma Representation

The Montenegrin Roma Council is asking for electoral reform in Montenegro to guarantee the representation of Roma in the parliament. The article here is very critical of this, stating that the Roma Council is acting as a satellite of the Democratic Socialist Party (DPS).

In any case, reserved seats fro minorities are not a solution.

Czech Republic Hungary News Eastern Europe

Fidesz Roma Representative

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Fidesz Roma Representative

Politician and State Secretary for Roma Relations Attila Sztojka announced that he will not take up his parliamentary mandate in the new election period and will not continue as a member of the Hungarian parliament. The Fidesz politician said that he wants to return “to the field”, where he said he started in 1998.

In his statement, Sztojka also returned to internal conflicts. He mentioned the processes surrounding the Cigány Közösségek Szövetsége (Federation of Roma Communities, CIKÖSZ) and the National Roma Self-Government (Magyarországi Románok Országos Önkormányzatának, MROÖ) in Hungary. According to him, two years ago it still seemed possible to bring change to the Roma representation, but later, according to him, the disintegration began in both the MROÖ and the CIKÖSZ.

Both are highly controversial organisations and did not do anything for a very long time.

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