Romania's largest political parties have demonstrated a lack of political will in addressing the issues of
Roma.minority. Roma minority comes into the speech of politicians when using discriminatory or even
extreme nationalist statements. For instance, starting with 2007, President Traian Basescu reffered to a
journalist as a „Stinky Gypsy". Furthermore, ex Prime Minister, Calin Popescu Tariceanu talked about
repatriation of Roma who commit crimes in Italy: „These Roma people commit all the possible crimes,
burglary, prostitution, robbery and drug trafficking". Recently, the vice-president of the Juridical
Commission within the Senate, Iulian Urban, has started to post .periodically anti-Roma messages on his
blog site. On Sunday, 8th of November, Ludovic Orban, a member of a large political party in Romania,
• affirmed that president „Basescu's electorate are drunkards, prostitutes and Gypsies";
Recommendations
The international bodies must continue to hold the Romanian government accountable . to the
treaties it has ratified on human rights and freedoins.
Political parties should develop strategies for effective outreach to supporters in order to develop
long-term dialogue.
Politicians should proactively react to human rights violation, when it comes to hate speech
targeting Roma, promoted by colleagues from their parties.
Disciplinary procedures should be put into practice when remarks and attitudes violating human
rights principles are promoted.
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