Czech Republic: Interview with local Romani candidate Milan Horvát

Q:  Why did you decide to go into politics and what do you consider  has been a success during your term in office?  

A:  Politics has always interested me, and I also wanted to change the majority society’s view of Romani people, because even a Rom can change something and hold a prestigious position. As for a success, I don’t consider it my personal success, but I do consider it a success of the ČSSD that we have succeeded in enrolling all children into nursery schools and we have managed to fulfill most of our program points.  

Q:  After your experiences with a first term in office you are running for the ČSSD once more. What will your aims be should you be re-elected as a Prague 3 local councilor?

A:  I was part of the birth of social services in Prague 3, my aim is to expand those services even more and to make them accessible to local residents. I would also like to call for improvements to the approach taken by bureaucrats toward the Romani residents who turn to the municipality with their concerns, and last but not least, I am interested in housing policy, because most Romani people have the most difficulties with housing and with work.  

Q:  Which positions have you represented in the Prague 3 municipal department?

A:  I am on the Asset Committee, the Cultural Commission, the Health and Social Welfare Commission, and the Commission for Privatization of Housing Stock. This is not such a significantly lucrative activity as many people might presume. I receive remuneration for my work in the amount of CZK 2 200 net per month. I hope I will be re-elected, because I have acquired a great deal of experience and a lot of knowledge I could put to good use now. I really do know a lot about the problems of "ordinary people" and I am glad when people contact me to ask for advice. I have not forgotten my origins and my roots, that is where I get my strength.  

Q:  How do you manage to combine work on so many commissions and committees with regular life?

A:  I’m an active person, I love having an overview of what is going in life that concerns me, and I can try to improve it. In addition to political activity, I am an employee of the Prague Transit Authority, where I have been a bus driver for 22 years.

Q:  Why do you believe many citizens, mainly Romani ones, don’t turn out for the elections?

A:  I think the citizens – and mainly the Romani ones – are skeptics. They don’t believe that if they go vote, something will change. That’s a great shame, because everyone should realize that through their votes they can decide who will represent them. If the Roma don’t vote, then they will have to rely on a Czech representative elected by the majority society, and 80 – 90 % of such representatives have no interest in Romani people.