Czech KDU-CSL leader insists on his involvement in Romany affairs

Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Christian Democrat leader Jiri Cunek believes that in his capacity he has the right to take part in the solution to all problems, including those relating to Romanies, Cunek told the commercial television station Prima today.

Earlier this year, Cunek angered Romanies by his having spoken in the tabloid Blesk about "sunburnt people," alluding to Romanies’ skin colour, who "make mess with their family and put up fires on town squares."

On Saturday, the Greens asked Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek to see to it that Cunek no longer speak on the Romany issue.

Topolanek told journalists today he could not forbid to cabinet members to voice their personal and party views.

Topolanek said that he did not like to see the cabinet members speaking about the affairs that were not within their agenda.

"I dislike this among many ministers," Topolanek said.

Education Minister Dana Kuchtova (Greens), for one, should not speak about energy policy, he added.

Cunek told Prima today that he was really interested in solving the problem of socially weak Romany families.

The government should arrive at a programme that would really change their situation, Cunek said.

"It should not be as until now when the programmes only slowed down the Romanies’ plight," he said, adding that he had passed his knowledge to Minister Stehlikova(Greens) who is drafting a Romany policy concept.

The state should change its policy as it should set down some duties for the families depending on welfare benefits, Cunek said.

The welfare support should depend on whether they send their children to school or pre-school facilities, he added.

Ivan Vesely, chairman of the Romany association Dzeno, denounced Cunek’s statement.

"In my view, it was xenophobic and racist," Vesely said.

However, he said that he agreed with Cunek’s views that the state should resolve the problem of socially weak Romany families not only by prevention, but also by repression.

The government should invest more in elementary schools and other facilities that are to ensure that Romany children successfully pass the elementary school, which will open their way to further education, Bursik said.

Greens leader Martin Bursik said he agreed with Cunek’s idea that the people who have no jobs should be motivated to look for them.

"However, this should not be only targetted in a xenophobic way on the Romany community," Bursik said.

"It is not so that there is an active policy putting the Romany community at an advantage. Everyone is equal before the state," he added.

Most television viewers were not opposed to what Cunek said about the Romanies. Over 90 percent of those who took part in a televised poll said they did not think that Cunek should resign over his statement.