Indicator history

The main target of discriminatory speech coming from politicians and, more worryingly from some politicians holding highest state dignities is the Roma minority. In the past years, such speech has increased in frequency, and was many times connected to actions of foreign Governments as related to the Romanian Roma or towards Romania in general, also using scapegoating mechanisms. [1]

Statements included: “how aggressive this filthy gypsy was” (Romanian President Basescu 2007), [2] “these Roma commit all sorts of crimes possible, from robbery and prostitution to organized crime and drug trafficking” (Romanian PM Tariceanu 2007), [3] We have some physiological, natural problems of criminality amongst some Romanian communities, especially among the communities of Roma ethnic Romanian citizens (Romanian MoFA Baconschi, 2010), [4] “For example, you cannot tell to the Finn ‘no, it is not true, Gypsies were not in the centre of Helsinki and were not begging’ (…) What can diplomacy do when the government finds that the Gypsies are begging, begging aggressively, have started stealing trough busses, through;” (President Basescu in the context of Finnish and Dutch opposition to Romania and Bulgaria’s Schengen entry, 2011) [5]

See also the Case study on High-level discriminatory speech within RED

Sources:

1. See, for example, Peter Walker, “Italy’s Gypsies suffer discrimination and prospect of draconian curbs”, in The Guardian, 21.07.2008, available at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/21/italy.race1 (accessed on 06.03.2012) and BBC, Q&A: France Roma expulsions, 19.20.2010, available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11027288 (accessed on 06.03.2012) as well as: Center for Legal Resources Press Release. The Roma between France, the European Commission and Romania, 06.09.2010, available in English at: http://www.crj.ro/EN/The-Roma-between-France-the-European-Commission-and-Romania-581/ (accessed on 06.03.2012)

2. See recording of the incident at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNqfgi53COA (accessed on 06.03.2012) as well as Alina Neagu, “The verdict of the High Court of Cassation and Justice in the case ‘filthy gypsy’: Traian Basescu’s gesture is discriminatory, but does not represent a contravention” in Hotnews, 15.05.2008, available at: http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-3017895-video-verdictul-iccj-cazul-tiganca-imputita-gestul-lui-traian-basescu-este-discriminatoriu-dar-nu-reprezinta-contraventie.htm?cfym (accessed on 06.03.2012)

3. Ziare.com, Romanian criminals in Italy will be caught with Romanian police officers, 01.07.2007, available at: http://www.ziare.com/nationala-romaniei/stiri-nationala-romaniei/infractorii-romani-din-italia-vor-fi-prinsi-cu-politisti-romani-101721 (accessed on 06.03.2012)

4. Mediafax.ro, Baconschi: The word physiological was underlining the fact that the criminality rate is similar to other communities, 23.02.2010, available at: http://www.mediafax.ro/social/baconschi-cuvantul-fiziologica-sublinia-ca-rata-infractionalitatii-e-similara-altor-comunitati-5600317 (accessed on 06.03.2012)

5. Realitatea.net, Basescu on Schengen: Netherlands and Finland have had a non-European behaviour, 22.09.2011, available at: http://www.realitatea.net/basescu-despre-schengen-olanda-si-finlanda-au-avut-un-comportament-non-european_873078.html (accessed on 06.03.2012)