Don't divert attention from real problems

The condemnation of the expulsion of Roma from France is justified, writes the daily De Standaard: "Are there no problems with the Roma Gypsies in France? Of course there are. ... But the criticism is mainly directed against the lack of coherence in Sarkozy's security policy, which foresees the axing of 3,500 police jobs next year, the lack of structural measures to better integrate the Gypsies into the municipal system and at a populism which has no qualms about collectively stigmatising an entire ethnic group. ... Perhaps Sarkozy should let Rudolf Sarközi, the chairman of the Austrian Romani Association, advise him. 'We had a situation that was similarly precarious to that in France', he said. But the situation has improved because the Gypsies were allocated areas where they could 'live dignified lives' and because money was invested in the education of their young."

» full article (external link, Dutch)
More from the press review on the subject » Integration, » Minorities, » France
All available articles from » Bart Beirlant

» To the complete press review of Thursday, August 19, 2010