Czech Romanies to lodge criminal complaint against deputy PM

Czech Romany activists will lodge a criminal complaint against Deputy PM Jiri Cunek over his recent statements on Romanies by which they say he might have fomented hatred to Romany ethnicity, Monia Mihalickova, head of the Athinganoi association board, has told CTK.

Cunek, the junior ruling Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL) chairman, senator, deputy PM and local development minister, recently said, in response to tabloid Blesk reader’s question of whether other people would receive state subsidies similar to those received by Romanies:

"For this they will have to get sunburnt (alluding to Romanies’ colour of skin), make a mess with your family, put up fires in the square and only then will some politicians say – you are really a poor man."

Commenting on his own allegation that most Romanies misuse social benefits, Cunek said: "I’ve entered the government in order to complicate [the enjoying of] the social benefits system by those who want to misuse it. As a result, you’ll see many Romanies work in the end."

Romany activists demand Cunek’s withdrawal from the government. They want to stage a demonstration in support of their demand in front of the Government Office on Wednesday.

Mihalickova, a former deputy who is currently deputy chairwoman of the Government Council for Romany Issues, said that the activists will lodge a complaint against Cunek still ahead of the demonstration.

According to the complaint, which has already been completed, Cunek might have fomented hatred towards citizens of Romany ethnicity and create an impression as if a possible restriction of rights and freedoms were justified.

"He created an impression that Romanies are incapable of adapting themselves [to the majority population] and unwilling to earn their living by work," Mihalickova said.

The KDU-CSL’s coalition partners reacted to Cunek’s controversial statements last week. The senior ruling Civic Democrats (ODS) distanced themselves from his words and called them xenophobic. The Greens (SZ) want Cunek to leave the cabinet.

One month ago Cunek announced that he wants to submit his own plan of Romany integration. Romany activists say that by this initiative Cunek wants to divert the public’s attention from the corruption accusation he faces.