Slovakia’s new Plenipotentiary for Roma communities is named

The Office of Plenipotentiary for the Roma Communities has a new head after a vacancy of two months when the government delegated Ľudovít Galbavý to the post on the recommendation of Deputy Prime Minister Dušan Čaplovič on August 19, the TASR newswire reported.

The Office of Plenipotentiary for the Roma Communities has a new head after a vacancy of two months when the government delegated Ľudovít Galbavý to the post on the recommendation of Deputy Prime Minister Dušan Čaplovič on August 19, the TASR newswire reported.

Galbavý is a lecturer in Roma studies at Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra. Čaplovič had indicated that the plenipotentiary should be a man. "I say this clearly, it must be a man and it must be a decisive person who will bring order and will lead the fight against usurers in the Roma settlements," the Deputy PM told the TASR last month.

He also said that it didn't matter whether or not the new plenipotentiary is a Roma, but it would be important whether or not he had empathy towards them. According to Čaplovič, the appointee must be tough and a man of principle, able to help resolve problems with loan sharks in Roma settlements.

This position has been vacant since June 10 when Anina Botošová was recalled by the Slovak government at her own request. She faced criticism from Roma non-governmental organisations who reproached her for being inactive and also for approving two grants allegedly connected to an organisation with which she is associated.

Botošová was appointed to the post on June 21, 2007, one day after the Cabinet recalled her predecessor Klára Orgovánová. Čaplovič said at the time that he and Orgovánová differed on how to resolve Roma minority issues. TASR

Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.

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