GNV News – July 6, 2025

In Romania’s new coalition cabinet led by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, formed on June 23, 2025, Petre-Florin Manole, the first politician of Roma origin, was appointed Minister of Labor and Social Solidarity. This is the first time in Romania’s history that a Roma person has headed a major ministry.

Roma are a people who live primarily in Europe as well as in many parts of the world. In Romania, the 2011 census officially counted about 620,000 Roma, but in reality the number of people who identify as Roma is estimated at about 1.9 million, and worldwide they are thought to number around 15 million. Historically they have been subjected to persecution and exploitation through slavery, and even after the establishment of the European Union (EU) they continue to face entrenched discrimination and poverty in employment, education, housing, and other areas.

For Roma who have been structurally excluded by such institutional discrimination and social prejudice, recent years have seen efforts aimed at promoting social inclusion and correcting discrimination. In the city of Satu Mare, Romania, through the Chess for Change project that began in 2019, there have been reports that learning chess has improved Roma children’s academic performance and self-esteem. Such initiatives are expected to prevent school dropout among Roma, promote social participation, overcome institutional prejudice and exclusion, and deepen mutual understanding. In addition, starting in July 2025, the Council of Europe launched a new Swiss–Romanian initiative supporting Roma inclusion, including measures against unemployment and improved access to local services. Whether this first Roma cabinet minister and these new initiatives will serve as a catalyst for eliminating the structural discrimination and prejudice maintained against Roma and for promoting their social participation remains to be seen; the focus will be on tangible progress toward genuine inclusion going forward.

Learn more about the Roma → “Roma: Poverty and discrimination that persist today”

Learn more about other minorities → “Vietnam’s ethnic minorities: Why are they socially disadvantaged?”

Think about “ethnicity” → “Ethnicity and the nation-state: Can people be classified?”

Photo: Petre-Florin Manole speaking at the European Commission (Parlamentul Republicii Moldova / Flickr [public domain])