Interviews

What did it mean to you personally and to your work and activism to receive this award from the University of Cádiz?

It was a great honour, unimaginable. It was like the first time I entered the Spanish parliament in June 1977, I thought that it wasn’t just me but all the Romany in Spain entering alongside me. This time, when the President of the University of Cádiz was placing that “hat” on my head I had a crowd of Romany at my side; fighters for human rights seeing, in some way, their constant demands for the recognition of the thousands of years of Romany culture answered and not as an impediment, but, quite the contrary, as in this case, as a reason for being awarded the highest academic distinction at a university.


In Cádiz, during the ceremony for your honorary doctorate, you mentioned the need for Romany children to study. What are the obstacles to their doing so nowadays?

Only culture can set peoples free. Only education and knowledge can give the Romany the weapons needed to be themselves with dignity and self-respect. Thus, I always tell my people that they shouldn’t wait for anyone who help them out; that we have to be the ones to fight for themselves so as to be the ones to administer their own freedom.
        There was a time when the right to a place at school was not guaranteed throughout Spain. That is no so anymore. No child living in Spain does not have the chance to go to school. Nowadays, I have to say it, the ball is in our court. Romany truancy, in some regions, is very high. For this reason, I support the interest shown by the authorities in facing up to this fact, with adequate programmes to ensure direct intervention from the parents of truants, as well as the efforts from Romany associations themselves to increase people’s awareness.


Four years ago, you graduated in Law from the UOC. How have you made use of your qualifications?

A few days ago I was at Huelva’s courts, as a lawyer working on a criminal case. It was a particularly important case. In front of me I had 12 accused and 50 more witnesses waiting outside to be questioned. The trial involved three days of hard work. The media were closely following events. The accused were facing many years in prison. And among them there was a mayor.
        The Magistrate of Criminal Court no. 2 had firm control of proceedings, apart from a few really hard moments. I couldn’t take my eye of the ball for even a moment; especially given the fact that the other side had eight quick and smart lawyers who would not let any comment by that might harm their defendants. What is at stake in criminal cases is not a quantity of money, but the possibility of going to jail or not.
        When, following the intervention from the Huelva government’s Director of Public Prosecutions, I made my final address to set out my definitive conclusions and the judge declared the trial over, I left the court room, without even taking off my robes, to call my wife Paloma who was in Barcelona. And this, more or less, is what I said:
        ―Paloma, we’ve finally finished. I think everything went very well. I’ll see you tomorrow in Barcelona, but let me tell you something: right now, I feel incredibly happy for having studied at the UOC. The time that I couldn’t spend with you and the children because of the blasted tests was worth it. I can assure you that the legal training I received from the University has let me litigate with other lawyers on a level playing field.


Where does Spanish society have to go from here to remedy the situation for those who are excluded and to make them feel more a part of the world of knowledge, research and universities?

Listen, Spanish society is not racist, or at least it does not deserve to be deemed as such. This doesn’t mean that you won’t come across some really racist behaviour. We Romany know well what we have been suffering for so many centuries. My wealth of experience in the European parliament has brought me into contact with the levels of racism in countries with a long democratic tradition that are closely linked to our cultural setting. Nonetheless, I have to admit that over recent years, with the mass migration, we are now witnessing a new situation that is a catalyst for racists, whose numbers are constantly growing and who feel justified in their beliefs.
        Racism is a contagious disease whose only remedy is education and knowledge. Thus, I believe these are the steps that society, or rather public powers, must take. They should really provide equal opportunities for everyone.


What does the future hold for the Romany in terms of education? Can Romany also find their place in research and universities? Can they occupy important positions in society? Is it possible to imagine a Romany university president?

Look, at the moment, the level of illiteracy in Spain’s Romany community is around 40%. This is a terrible figure, but 30 years ago, with the arrival of democracy in Spain, that figure was 80%. However, despite this data, today there are probably dozens of Romany university students in the country. More girls than boys. Surprising, isn’t it? Obviously, the vast majority are in Andalusia! That’s because half of Spain’s Romany live there.
        When I was arrived at parliament for the first time as a deputy for Barcelona, and as such signed the Constitution, that represented for the Romany community, and for paya society, an authentic change. That I later went on to be the first Romany deputy in Brussels and Strasbourg surprised many Europeans. But that is now a well accepted fact. I know Spanish university professors of constitutional and international law who are Romany. Likewise, I’m in touch with three Romany professors at Central European universities and a number working at universities in the United States. But you’re right, I don’t know any university presidents, just like I don’t know any Romany that have been a government minister or President of the High Court. But, you know what, everything will come in time!