Germany: Antigypsyism spreading, parties' populism directly supporting it

Anti-Romani prejudice has been rising in German society in recent years. Negative depictions of Romani people are being ever more frequently exploited by political parties to win votes and, unlike in previous years, such statements are no longer the domain of the ultra-right only.

Christine Lüders, Germany’s Federal Anti-Discrimination Officer, warned of the trend on 10 July. "For quite some time now antigypsyism has not been a problem of the extreme right only, but a problem of society as a whole," she said. 

Lüders believes politicians from almost all political parties have been latching on to the topic, as shown by last year’s parliamentary elections and this year’s EP vote. During those elections, voices in favor of restricting immigration were often justified by claims that most immigrants just want to abuse the German social welfare system. 

German politicians often described such immigrants as Romani. "Politicians here have consciously manipulated the facts," Lüders said.

"Immigrants from the eastern countries of the European Union have been labeled across the board as Romani people who want to live on social welfare here. Most immigrants here pay into social security and pay their taxes. Far from all immigrants are of Romani origin," she said.

Lüders believes the media play a negative role when they pick up on statements by politicians depicting all Romani people in Germany as immigrants abusing welfare. That leads to the dissemination of prejudices that manifest themselves in society as discrimination against Romani people.

The Federal Anti-Discrimination Officer said four-fifths of Romani people in Germany encounter such discrimination. For example, they are more frequently rejected during initial hiring interviews.

Police officers also focus on them more frequently during checks of airports and highways, exclusively because of their racial origin. According to Romani Rose, chair of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, the rise in anti-Romani prejudice is related to the recent economic crisis in Europe.

"We know this from the past. During difficult times in Europe, attacks and sentiment against minorities have always gained in strength, whether against Jews or Roma," he said.