Gábor (LEV 21), Romani candidate to the Czech lower house: Unemployment means aversion to Roma

An unusually high number of Romani people are running in this year’s early elections compared to years past. The monthly Romano voďi, published by the ROMEA association, has done its best to interview all the candidates running for the lower house and will run those interviews in addition to publishing analytical material about the elections.

News server Romea.cz will be gradually publishing these interviews. We consider these elections to be important, key, and we hope to bring you the opinions of all those asking for your vote.

This interview introduces Marek Gábor, who is running for the LEV 21 – Národní socialisté (LION 21 – National Socialists) in 14th place in the Hradec Králové Region.

Q:  Why did you choose this party, how much does its program align with your own ideas, how much does it focus on questions about inter-ethnic coexistence, poverty, social housing, etc.?

A:  I am running for LEV 21 because I agree with its program. In short, I am a party member. LEV 21’s program includes proposals to revive the economy and resolve social questions, including problems stemming from social exclusion. Addressing problems in places with high unemployment is linked to the need to revive the economy, and that is not possible without new job opportunities through state commissions, primarily in construction. The result of not addressing these matters is growing aversion on the party of the majority society toward Romani people. Various extremists and neo-Nazis organizations then exploit that aversion. 

Q:  Have you been politically engaged before this, have you ever been a member of another political party?

A:  For the time being I have no political experience. I am a trained mason. Currently I am not employed full-time. It’s hard to find a job. In my opinion, employers discriminate against us Roma. They prefer to hire whites. They tell you they’ll give you a call, but you could wait for it forever.

Q:  Rather a lot of Romani people are running for various parties this year. What do you make of this?

A:  It’s good that in this year’s elections Romani people are also running.  As long as we are unable to speak up in politics, nothing much will change here for us.

Q:  Should Romani candidates collaborate across party lines?

A:  Romani candidates should cooperate even when they are in different parties.

These interviews will be published in the print edition of Romano voďi magazine, the October edition of which will feature edited versions of all of these interviews (in Czech only). You can order a copy of the October edition at romea@romea.cz.