Roma councillors elected in 18 municipalities
Ljubljana, 22 November - Roma councillors have been elected in 18 of the 20 Slovenian municipalities in which the Roma community has the right to a representative on the municipal council. In two municipalities, Semič in the south-east and Landava in the north-east, no Roma candidates stood in the election.
Logatec
Casting of ballots at the local elections.
Photo: STA
File photo
Roma councillors were elected on Sunday in Beltinci, Cankova, Črenšovci, Črnomelj, Dobrovnik, Grosuplje, Kočevje, Krško, Kuzma, Metlika, Murska Sobota, Novo mesto, Puconci, Rogaševci, Šentjernej, Tišina, Trebnje and Turnišče.
In Semič and Lendava the elections for Roma councillors were not carried out as no candidacies were filed within the set deadline, so a subsequent election will be held on 15 January.
In line with the 2002 changes to the local government act, in each of the 20 municipalities one Roma councillor is elected providing that at least one candidate stands.
At the last local election in 2018, there were no Roma candidates in Beltinci and Šentjernej.
If the municipality fails to secure the right to a Roma representative in the municipal council, the National Electoral Commission carries out a by-election based on a law regulating local elections.
Local elections are extremely important for the 12,000-member Roma community in Slovenia, Roma official Darko Rudaš told the STA ahead of the local election. It is municipalities that can contribute the most to the development of the Roma community and better quality of living in Roma villages, he stressed.