Ivana Batthyány, David Beňák and Jaroslav Miko, Romani candidates running for the European Parliament in the Czech Republic, debated each other on ROMEA TV
On Wednesday, 5 June at 19:00 CET, ROMEA TV broadcast live online a debate between the three Romani candidates competing to be seated in the European Parliament (EP). All of the candidates accepted the invitation to the debate: Ivana Batthyány (The Left - Levice), David Beňák (Association of Dissatisfied Citizens - ANO) and Jaroslav Miko (Mayors and Independents - STAN).
Viewers were able to send in their questions live during the online broadcast. Moderator Jarmila Balážová posed several of them to the candidates.
Ivana Batthyány: Strengthening the rights of women and integration of the Roma
Batthyány is running for The Left with a clear aim: To improve the position of Romani people in Europe and to fight for women’s rights. “Romani people are an integral part of society and we cannot count them out,” she previously told news server Romea.cz.
The female Romani candidate is building her candidacy on emphasizing the integration of Romani people into society and strengthening women’s rights, as she considers these issues to be crucial to equality and progress in society.
David Beňák: A face-to-face campaign and aid to the needy
Beňák is running for the ANO movement and focusing on aid to those who are the weakest members of society. “I want to assist those who need it,” he declared.
During his face-to-face campaign he has been focusing on Romani voters in particular, with whom he wants to hold direct, open dialogue. “I’m seeking Romani votes. Come election day, we will see whether our community is able to do something in a political sense so that our ‘voice’, at least in the person of one Romani man, is heard on behalf of Czechia in the European Parliament,” he said.
Beňák said he will do his best to listen to the needs of people and to respond to them by taking specific steps leading to the improvement of their living conditions.
Jaroslav Miko: Combating poverty and segregation
Miko is running for STAN and, as a half-Romani man, said he is reaching out to both non-Romani and Romani voters. He said he wants to combat poverty and segregation.
“Those are things that affect me deeply, for example, educational segregation. If I manage to get into the European Parliament, there will be a lot of room there for me to advocate for matters in the interest of the Roma that do not contradict the interests of the majority,” he told news server Romea.cz.
His aim during his campaign has been to speak to both non-Romani and Romani voters and to also dedicate himself to questions that bother the broader public, as well as contributing to greater cohesion and justice in society.
Don’t miss the EP elections
ROMEA TV broadcast the debate as part of the campaign Me džav! A so tu? [I’m Going! Are You?], which is being run in collaboration with the RomanoNet organization. In the Czech Republic, the elections to the EP will be held on 7 and 8 June.
Don’t forget to take advantage of your right to vote and support a candidate advocating for a better future for all of us.
