It seems that Slovakia is finally prepared for a Roma MP, the Sme daily wrote on Wednesday, March 14. Peter Pollák, from the town of Levoča in Prešov Region, was elected to parliament on March 10 on the Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OĽaNO) slate. He is the first Rom to sit in parliament for 20 years, following Gejza Adam and Anna Koptová who previously sat in the old federal Czechoslovak parliament.
Pollák commented that such an event had had to happen. Slovakia has a large Roma community made up not only of people living in settlements but also educated people integrated into society, he opined, adding that his achievement was a symbol of tolerance. He also admitted that in Roma settlements bad things went on during election campaigns, including payments for votes.
Source: Sme
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
