Center for Urban and Regional Sociology CURS-SA 21, Tudor Arghezi, sector 2, Bucharest Tel/fax: +4021-317.88.88 Tel: +4021-316.59.55 e-mail: office@curs.ro web: www.curs.ro Survey on the Political Participation of Roma in Romania This research was funded by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) as part of the National Democratic Institute’s regional program to increase Roma political participation. August 2006 Methodology Sampling universe: Adult Roma population living in compact communities, adult integrated Roma (urban area) and adult non-Roma population Sample size: 600 Roma in compact communities, 600 non-Roma, 200 integrated Roma Fieldwork: 8-20 August 2006 Interviews: In-home, in-person, pencil and paper interviews based on a standardized questionnaire Beneficiary: National Democratic Institute - NDI If you consider yourself Roma, would you identify yourself as...? Caramidar Rudar Vatras/de vatra Caldarar Rom romanizat Ursar Other I identify myself DK/NA simply as Roma Employment Status Retired Pupil/student Farmer Entrepreneur Self-employed Seasonal Skilled worker Unskilled worker Unemployed Foreman/technician Higher education personnel NA 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50% Education level No education 1-4 forms 5-8 forms 10 forms Highschool Post-highschool University/college NA Are you currently a member of any of the following types of organizations? - percentage of total sample Political party Parents/school association Religious group or church Other community or civic group Other group or organisation organisation Have you taken any of the following actions in an attempt to solve a local problem affecting people in your area? - percentage of total sample Written to or spoken with a local newspaper Contacted a civic, voluntary or state organisation for help Contacted a mayor, local councillor, regional councillor or MP Attended a public/town hall meeting to discuss local issues Attended a protest or joined an activist organization Helped organise a petition on a local issue Discussed the problem in the local community or religious group Looked for the support of a local Roma leader Discussed the problem with friends/family Contacted an NGO 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50% Which party did you vote for in the last local elections (2004)? % of those with opinion Roma non-Roma 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% PC (PUR) PD PIN PNG PNL PPCD PRM PSD Alianta D.A. Social Alliance for UDMR Independent Other (PNTCD) PNL-PD Democrat Roma unity Roma Party from Romania If you voted in the last local elections, which factor most influenced your choice? % of those who voted Endorsements by Endorsements by Party or Party or Party or Your family Monetary Compulsion Other (specify) DK/NA community leaders the media candidate’s candidate’s candidate’s incentives/gifts campaign image/reputation program If you did not vote in the last local election, which factor most influenced your decision to abstain? % of those who didn't vote Insufficient information about parties/candidates/elections Mistrust of the candidates/parties Lack of Roma representation among candidates/parties Insufficient focus on the community’s priorities Disappointed by past elected representatives No interest in politics Other (specify) DK/NA 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% Which party did you vote for in the last parliamentary elections (2004)? % of those with opinion Roma non-Roma 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%Alianta D.A. PNL-PD PNG PNTCD PRM Uniunea PSD+PUR Social Democrat Alliance for Roma UDMR Other partyRoma Party from unityRomania If you did vote in the last parliamentary election, what factor most influenced your choice? % of those who voted Endorsements by Endorsements by Party or Party or Party or Your family Monetary Compulsion Other (specify) DK/NA community leaders the media candidate’s candidate’s candidate’s incentives/gifts campaign image/reputation program If you did not vote in the last parliamentary elections, what factor most influenced your decision to abstain? % of those who didn't vote Insufficient information about parties/candidates/elections Mistrust of the candidates/parties Lack of Roma representation among candidates/parties Insufficient focus on the community’s priorities Disappointed by past elected representatives No interest in politics Other (specify) DK/NA 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% How would a party having a Roma candidate in an eligible position on its party list influence your decision to vote for it? I would be more likely to vote for the party I would be less likely to vote for the party It would not influence my opinion of the DK/NA party If the parliamentary elections were held at the end of the present week which party would you support? % of those with opinion Roma non-Roma 50% 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% PC (PUR) Alianta D.A. PIN PNG PPCD (PNTCD) PRM PSD Social Democrat Alliance for UDMR Other PNL-PD Roma Party from Roma unity Romania What factor will most influence who you vote for in future elections? Strong party Strong platform on Strong platform on Strong platform on Party reputation Community My family The party’s Monetary DK/NA leader Roma issues economic issues social issues backing campaign incentives/gifts Do you believe that improving the situation of Roma in Romania is a priority that the government is trying its best to address, or that it is a challenge it is trying to avoid? 70% 64% Roma non-Roma 60% 50% 41% 40% 36% 30% 23% 19%20% 17% 10% 0% It is a priority that it is trying its best to address It is a challenge they are trying to avoid DK/NA From the economic point of view, do you believe that Roma are better off today, or that they were better off before the fall of communism in 1989? 60% Roma non-Roma 52% 51% 50% 40% 30% 22% 20% 20% 16% 16% 12% 11% 10% 0% Better off today Better off before the fall of communism It is the same situation DK/NA From the political liberty point of view, do you believe that Roma are better off today, or that they were better off before the fall of communism in 1989? 80% Roma non-Roma 70% 67% 60% 50% 47% 40% 30% 27% 20% 15% 16% 11% 11% 10% 6% 0% Better off today Better off before the fall of communism It is the same situation DK/NA Having in mind the governments in the last 15 years, under which of them did the Roma population live best? Ion Iliescu (1990-1996) Emil Constantinescu (1997-Adrian Nastase (2001-2004) Traian Basescu (2005-None DK/NA 2000) nowadays) Do you believe that non-Roma, overall, are better off today, or that they were better off before the fall of communism in 1989? 45% Roma non-Roma40% 40% 36% 34%35% 33% 30% 25% 20% 18% 14%15% 13% 12% 10% 5% 0% Better off today Better off before the fall of communism It is the same situation DK/NA Thinking of your general quality of life as it compares to the quality of life of the non-Roma around you, would you rate your quality of life as…? 40% 37% Roma non-Roma 35% 32% 30% 25% 25% 22% 20% 15% 14%15% 13% 11% 10% 10% 9%10% 5% 3% 0%Much better than the Better than the average The same as the average Worse than the average Much worse than the DK/NAaverage nonRoma nonRoma nonRoma nonRoma average nonRoma What three issues do you think are the most pressing for the government to address? - multiple response 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% For the following statement indicate whether you agree, disagree or don’t know My local council has enough Roma representation Agree Disagree DK/NA For the following statement indicate whether you agree, disagree or don’t know My county council has enough Roma representation 70% Roma non-Roma 60% 58% 50% 50% 40% 35% 30% 24% 20% 18% 15% 10% 0% Agree Disagree DK/NA For the following statement indicate whether you agree, disagree or don’t know The Romanian Government has enough Roma representation 70% Roma non-Roma 59%60% 50% 50% 40% 36% 30% 24% 20% 17% 14% 10% 0% Agree Disagree DK/NA For the following statement indicate whether you agree, disagree or don’t know The Romanian Parliament has enough Roma representation 70% Roma non-Roma 60% 58% 50% 48% 40% 38% 30% 27% 20% 15% 14% 10% 0% Agree Disagree DK/NA Do you think that Roma can effectively defend their interests through representation on: The local level (municipal councils) Yes No DK/NA Do you think that Roma can effectively defend their interests through representation on: The County Council Yes No DK/NA Do you think that Roma can effectively defend their interest through their representation on: National Government and Parliament Yes No DK/NA Do you think that Roma can effectively defend their interests through representation on: The European level - European parliament and EU Commission 70% 65% Roma non-Roma 60% 50% 41% 40% 35% 30% 24% 20% 20% 15% 10% 0% Yes No DK/NA In which level of government do you have the most trust? Local government County government Parliament Government European Council DK/NA Do you think people like you can influence the decision making process at local level? Yes No DK/NA Do you think people like you can influence the decision making process at the county level? Yes No DK/NA Do you think people like you can influence the decision making process at the national level? Yes No DK/NA For the following statement indicate whether you agree, disagree or don’t know Politicians lack decision making accountability 70% 66% Roma non-Roma 62% 60% 50% 40% 30% 24% 22% 20% 16% 10% 10% 0% Agree Disagree DK/NA For the following statement indicate whether you agree, disagree or don’t know What is going on in politics is related to my life 60% Roma non-Roma 53% 50% 41% 40% 35% 35% 30% 24% 20% 12% 10% 0% Agree Disagree DK/NA For the following statement indicate whether you agree, disagree or don’t know Choosing the right political party is important in changing our lives Agree Disagree DK/NA For the following statement indicate whether you agree, disagree or don’t know Roma can largely influence the results of the elections with their votes 70% Roma non-Roma 61% 60% 55% 50% 40% 30% 27% 22% 20% 18% 17% 10% 0% Agree Disagree DK/NA Which of the following institutions do you think can deal effectively with the problems of the Roma community? Local Government National Agency for Parliament Government National Council for Ombudsman EU structures DK/NA the Roma Combating Discrimination Please read the names of the following parties and note which are familiar to you and how you evaluate their work (on a scale from 1 = worst to 10 = best) - averages, from those with an opinion PSD PD PNL PC UDMR PRM PNG PNTCD PIN Percentages of those with opinion Roma non-Roma PSD 74 89 PD 72 88 PNL 70 88 PC 48 72 UDMR 59 77 PRM 66 86 PNG 63 78 PNTCD 50 71 Please read the names of the following Roma parties and note which are familiar to you and how you evaluate their work (on a scale from 1 = worst to 10 = best) - averages, from those with an opinion 8.00 7.00 6.00 5.00 4.00 3.00 2.00 1.00 -Social Democrat Roma Party from Romania Alliance for Roma unity Percentages of those with opinion Civic Alliance of Roma Roma non-Roma Social Democrat Roma Party from Romania 64 27 Alliance for Roma unity 54 25 Civic Alliance of Roma 34 14 Please read the names of the following party leaders and note which are familiar to you and how you evaluate their work (on a scale from 1 = worst to 10 = best) - averages, from those with an opinion Calin Popescu Traian Basescu Emil Boc Mircea GeoanaCorneliu Vadim Gigi Becali Dan Voiculescu Cozmin GusaMarko Bela Gheorghe Tariceanu Tudor Ciuhandu Percentages of those with opinion Roma non-Roma Calin Popescu Tariceanu 76 92 Traian Basescu 80 94 Emil Boc 53 80 Mircea Geoana 68 86 Corneliu Vadim Tudor 73 90 Gigi Becali 77 89 Dan Voiculescu 47 73 Cozmin Gusa 42 69 Having in mind the Roma priorities, which political party do you think has the most successful solutions to Roma problems? Roma non-Roma 50% 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% PC (PUR) PD PIN PNG PNL PPCD PRM PSD Social Alliance for UDMR Other DK/NA (PNTCD) Democrat Roma unity Roma Party from Romania Which Roma leader do you think is doing the most for the Roma community? - open ended question, % of those with an opinion Other Florin CioabaGigi Becali Ion CioabaIulian Radulescu Madalin Voicu Marian MaresNicolae Paun Viorel Bumbu Marian Vanghelie How do you consider yourself from a political orientation point of view? Social democrat / Communist Liberal Christian Popular Conservative Echologist Other DK/NA socialist democrat Has your community been visited by politicians or political leaders? Yes No DK/NA What was the purpose of the visit? % of those from localities visited by political leader / politicians, multiple response To provide To provide To provide To get informed To offer help To organize election Other DK/NA information about the information about the information about about the priorities campaign party/candidate government Roma programs and problems of the Roma community Where do you most often get information about political party representatives and political institutions? -multiple response - Roma non-Roma 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0%Internet Local Politicians Press Radio TV Leaders of Roma Local Friends Family Other None DK/NANGOs your Media Mediacommunity Which sources of information do you believe most? Where do you think the information given is most correct? -multiple response - Roma non-Roma 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0%Internet Local Politicians Press Radio TV Leaders of Roma Local Friends Family Other None DK/NANGOs your Media Mediacommunity