Elections to the EP: Romani leaders mobilize Romani voters, results could fundamentally impact the EU's approach to minorities
Romani activists and representatives are calling for high turnout among Romani voters during the elections to the European Parliament (EP) being held throughout the EU from 6 to 9 June 2024. According to their statements for ROMEA TV, it is important to take advantage of the right to vote because the EP significantly influences policies affecting the Romani minority across Europe.
From left to right: MEP Peter Pollák; director of the European Roma Grassroots Organizations Network Gabriela Hrabaňová; and MEP Patricia Caro Maya (PHOTOS: Viola Tokárová)
MEP Patricia Caro Maya, a Romani lawmaker from Spain, warned against the growth in totalitarian tendencies and emphasized that if extreme-right politicians take power, Romani people will be the first victims of hatred and violence. “That’s why we need to mobilize voters to vote for whomever they prefer as long as it’s not the totalitarian parties,” she appealed.
MEP Peter Pollák, a Romani lawmaker from Slovakia, reminded ROMEA TV that Romani participation in high politics is essential. “It’s politicians who make the decisions as to whether Romani people will have work, education for their children, access to infrastructure. It’s very important for Roma to be part of politics,” he said, adding that Romani voters in the recent elections in Slovakia managed to vote rationally in their own interests.
According to the director of the European Roma Grassroots Organizations Network, Gabriela Hrabaňová, the EP election results could fundamentally impact the EU’s approach toward minorities. If the radical right prevails, there is a risk that access to funds for the inclusion of Romani people in society could deteriorate, as could EU policies targeting equality.
“We have EU funds which aid the socially weak, they target minorities. We even have Romani targeting for those projects. It could happen that the new European Parliament and the new European Commission won’t want to continue that,” Hrabaňová told ROMEA TV.
Czech MEP Tomáš Zdechovský and David Beňák, a Romani candidate running for the EP, both emphasized that Romani voices must be heard during the elections. Beňák said he hopes that even if he doesn’t succeed, he will motivate Romani people to get more involved in politics.
Michal Miko, director of RomanoNet, called for civic participation and for Roma to take advantage of their right to vote, as it will impact the representation of the interests of the Member States in the EP.
