Center-left Democratic Party (PD)
Rome mayoral candidate Roberto Giachetti told an ANSA Forum on
Friday that if elected, he will aim for the integration of Roma
people, not their persecution.
"As far as the Roma people camps, we don't need
bulldozers," said Giachetti, currently the deputy speaker of the
Lower House.
"What we need is to do a census and figure out who needs
public aid and who doesn't," Giachetti said.
"Some (Roma) are financially OK and just need to find a
home - as many do".
Giachetti added he would relaunch a campaign for the
education of Roma children.
Former PD Rome mayor Ignazio Marino said last year that
some 8,000 Roma, Sinti and travellers are still living in
makeshift camps that were set up two decades ago, and that city
officials must overcome widespread prejudice among voters in
order to get them into council housing.
Also last year, Roma people organizations asked to be
admitted as civil plaintiffs in the so-called Rome Mafia case
centering on a racketeering ring made up of gangsters,
businessmen and politicians that muscled in on lucrative city
contracts for Roma people camps, refugee reception centers,
trash collection, and parks maintenance.
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