Spanish MEP Patricia Caro Maya exclusively for ROMEA TV: Antigypsyism motivates me to want to improve the situation for my fellow Romani women and men in Europe
In November 2023, Patricia Caro Maya became yet another Romani woman to be seated in the European Parliament (EP). She replaced her colleague from the party Podemos, MEP Sira Rego, who was appointed to a ministerial post in the Government of Spain and resigned her MEP position.
Patricia Caro Maya is a psychologist and researcher and says she wants to advocate for legislation to improve the situation of Romani people, especially Romani women and girls. Online television channel ROMEA TV interviewed her during Romani Week, which is held on the occasion of International Romani Day in Brussels by the European Roma Grassroots Organizations Network (ERGO).
MEP Patricia Caro Maya (Podemos) is of Romani origin from Spain (PHOTO: Kristy Kvapilová)
“Antigypsyism is my biggest motivation for engaging in politics,” she says. “Politicians are rejecting that subject. That is why I am in the European Parliament, to advocate for and support legislation to improve the situation of Romani people in the localities, above all the situation of Romani women and girls.”
In the interview, the MEP stresses the importance of Romani women and men participating in the elections to the EP, especially at a time when the extreme totalitarian right is on the rise. “When such totalitarianism is present in our society, we Roma will be the first to be targeted with hatred and violence,” she warns, calling on people to participate in the elections and to vote for any party that is not extremist.
One of the key points of her agenda is the fight against antigypsyism in the schools, as it impacts Romani children’s right to an education. “If we protect our children from antigypsyism in [primary] school, they will be motivated to continue on to secondary school and university,” she explains, emphasizing the need to create safe spaces for Romani boys and girls.
In her view, it is a minor miracle that Romani people are even in politics. It is still a challenge for Romani women and men to be represented in the European Parliament.
While the Roma are Europe’s largest national minority, with an estimated 10-12 million EU citizens, there are just four MEPs now who espouse their Romani identity. They are Lívia Járóka for the Fidesz party in Hungary, Romeo Franz for the German Greens, Peter Pollák for the Slovakia Movement, and now, since November 2023, Patricia Caro Maya of Podemos in Spain.
“We have several Romani politicians at various levels of the state administration. They are quite good role models for Romani women and men. The number of [Romani] people who want to join their ranks and to get involved in politics is growing. However, the political parties must open their doors so these [Romani] people can exercise their right to political engagement,” she told ROMEA TV.
Currently the MEP from Spain is focusing on activities regarding commemorating the Holocaust of the Roma and Sinti and also the multiple discrimination of Romani women, with an emphasis on obstetric violence. “We have many cases of Romani women who have been subjected to obstetric violence,” she says, adding that she would like to include this subject on the agenda of feminism as well as on the agenda of mainstream politics.
