Romania - 2012
Is hate speech/racist-xenophobic discourse a wider, more 'mainstream', phenomenon in the political sphere?
- Code:
- RED35
- Key Area:
- Political Parties-organisations - Racist & Xenophobic Discourse
- Strand(s):
- Racism
| Short Answer |
Discriminatory speech has increased in frequency in the past years especially in relation to the Roma minority. Those making the most debated statements come from mainstream parties, and they do not seem to reflect any particular party ideology, but moreover their own view of things. Yet , the effects are particularly worrying as discriminatory statements often come from highest level state dignitaries. |
| Qualitative Info |
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)
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| Groups affected/interested | Roma & Travelers |
| Type (R/D) | Anti-roma/zinghanophobia |
| Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas | Political discourse -parties - orgs |
| External Url | |
| Situation(s) |
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| Library |
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| Short Answer |
Yes, it has increased in frequency in the past years especially in relation to the Roma minority. Those making the most debated statements come from mainstream parties, many times in highest-level positions. Romania continues to be a country where granting minority rights, especially if the Hungarian minority is the main beneficiary, stirs debates with nationalistic sentiments still being easy to re-kindle. |
| Qualitative Info |
A detailed presentation of the high-level discriminatory speech is done within the RED Case study on this topic. Also, it must be said that Romania is a country where granting minority rights, especially if the Hungarian minority is the main beneficiary, is always a topic which easily stirs nationalistic sentiments. A Government ordinance to establish a Hungarian language faculty within the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Tragu Mures (where Hungarian language teaching already existed), was highly contested, and stirred protests and heated debates. This was one of the three reasons of a motion which brought down the Government at the end of April 2012. The drafters of the motion opposed the establishment of this faculty for, among others, “encouraging separatism”. [1] Sources:
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| Groups affected/interested | Roma & Travelers, Ethnic minorities, National minorities |
| Type (R/D) | Anti-semitism, Anti-roma/zinghanophobia, Nationalism |
| Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas | Political discourse -parties - orgs |
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| Situation(s) |
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| Library |
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