A group of about 100 Roma attended a political rally of the second-running Smer party on Monday to protest the nationalist policies of Smer leader Robert Fico. Fico’s promise to reduce welfare benefits could affect some Roma families.
A report on the protest in the Pravda daily paper claimed the Roma, carrying placards with images of Ghandi and anti-Fico slogans, had left the rally after being asked by Fico to explain their presence.
“These are our Roma citizens – first they come to provoke us with placards, then they run away,” the paper quoted Fico as saying.
Compiled by Tom Nicholson from press reports.
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
