Roma Party Leader: Bulgaria Roma Votes Are Easy to Buy

Ilya Iliev, the leader of the Roma party DROM, has said that integration for his people into Bulgarian society is impossible without representation in parliament.

Iliev said; "For the time being we can see that the Bulgarian government lacks real policy towards Romani integration, what the European Union has set as rules and directives in this respect, simply is not applied," cited in an interview with Bulgarian daily newspaper Standart.

Regarding the setting up of a new youth initiative for Roma children Iliev stated; "We will encourage children from this ethnic group who go regularly to school and are gifted in culture, sports or arts. We plan the academy to be established by the end of April and with the support of local authorities to sprout structures all over Bulgaria....When one is educated, one can well compete at the labour market."

Iliev was also questioned on the scourge of vote-buying in Roma communities ahead of this summer's elections he responded; "Romani votes are easy to buy. When making my rounds in Bulgaria I have heard many times people complain they are sick of being lied to. After more than 15 years of constantly being lied to, they really feel cheated now. I think that the more time passes, the more the Romani mature and sense the need of a party which could defend their interests and not buy their votes against 10 or 20 levs or just grilled meat."