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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