Paroubek rejects racial implications in his show
Prague, 1. 2. 2006, 13:49 (CTK)

Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek (Social Democrats, CSSD) dismissed racial implications in his touring show with entertainer Jiri Krampol called "Premiere with the Premier," Paroubek told reporters today in reaction to information in the daily Mlada fronta Dnes (MfD).

Paroubek's words were confirmed by musician of Romany origin Antonin Gondolan who also participates in the programme. MfD reported today that Krampol told jokes mocking Romanies on the stage in Paroubek's show in Jihlava, south Moravia, on Monday. The jokes were based on the stereotypical picture of Romanies as social outcasts avoiding regular work and committing petty crimes.

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Political analysts and activists have sharply criticised the incident, pointing out that the head of the government should not have participated in a programme that ridicules ethnic minorities.

"In the countries with a highly developed democracy, this would be a scandal. If, for instance, the U.S. president appeared in such a show," the paper quotes political analyst Jiri Pehe as saying.

"The prime minister should have raised objections to such jokes immediately," Markus Pape, German activist who defends the rights of the Romany minority, told MfD.

Paroubek told reporters today that he would not comment on the articles in the daily press, but that the respective report made him angry a bit since it indicated that he and Krampol prepared programmes with racial implications. Paroubek stressed that there are no traces of racism in his way of thinking.

He also recalled that Romany Gondolan is performing in his show.

Gondolan mentioned that the programme "Premiere with the Premier" has always been staged in a pleasant atmosphere and that he "has never heard slight racial implications" there. Krampol on his part said that he can see nothing wrong with jokes on Romanies. "If there are jokes about chimney sweepers, doctors and blondes, why not about Romanies?" he told MfD. The paper, however, points out that unlike Romanies, "blondes and doctors" are not being discriminated against because of their ethnicity.

Paroubek also told reporters that the first deputy chairman of the Romany Democratic Social Party wrote to him today, saying he does not consider jokes on Romanies in Czech society fortunate and respectful, but that he never connected Paroubek with them. "We respect you very much. On you, we place our great hopes for positive changes in the solution to Romany issues and you enjoy support of Romany voters," Paroubek said, citing the letter he received.

CTK