A political party, at last
Eastern approaches 2013-09-19
Summary:
A NUMBER of new parties look set to contest the Czech general election in late October. Most of them run personality-driven populist campaigns. But at least one campaign is driving a positive cause: a new party is seeking to organise politically the country’s Roma minority.
An estimated 250,000 Roma live the in the Czech Republic, but those numbers are notoriously difficult to verify as census takers often fail to canvas effectively Roma neighbourhoods. Up to 50% of the Roma population is believed to stay in segregated, poor quality apartments and temporary hotels. Unemployment and welfare dependency rates are high. The new party, the Roma Democratic Party (RDS), seems unlikely to reach the 5 % threshold that would qualify it for parliament. But its campaign could yet help to organise future attempts to gain seats on local and regional councils.
The economically depressed northern Bohemian region has been a particular flash point in recent years, with Roma violence, both real and imagined, prompting protests and clashes. Right-wing extremist movements have sought to sow the seeds of unrest. And as if social problems...Continue reading