Lívia Járóka becomes first ever Romani Vice-President of the European Parliament

Lívia Járóka (Fidesz, EPP) of Hungary has been elected Vice-President of the European Parliament (EP) and has become the historically first MEP of Romani origin to achieve such an important post. "If I have the honor of being elected, my mission and role as the first Vice President of Romani origin will be not just to aid the 10 million-strong Romani community who have been victims of discrimination and segregation for many years, but also the 120 million people living in economic and social exclusion," news server INFO.cz quoted her as saying in a letter to her colleagues.

Járóka's appointment was supported by Czech MEP Tomáš Zdechovský (Christian Democrats - KDU-ČSL). “Lívia has been an MEP since 2004, and during all that time she has not just fought for the rights of Romani people quite actively, but she has first and foremost proven that with systematic work, excellent results can actually be achieved irrespective of one's origin," the Czech MEP, who has stood up for Romani people on the floor of the EP several times, said of her nomination.

Zdechovský got to know the Romani community in the Czech Republic during his four years as a streetworker and knows how attractive such examples are. Járóka will replace Ildikó Gall-Pelczas, who has been appointed to a prestigioius position at the European Court of Audiors in Luxembourg.

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