Source: Blic
It is good the new Assembly of Serbia has MPs from national minority parties which have, earned their seats by participating on the elections by themselves. It is also good that some other national minority parties went in with on lists of other parties, as well as that some “majority” parties have MPs that are from the ranks of national minorities. The adequate representation of social groups always contributes to the legitimacy of the Parliament, so it's something of an undisputed democratic value. It is interesting to note that, except national minority parties - which used to go independently on elections - it was the first time that Roma parties have succeeded in that. Since a Roma party making it to the parliament is always a curiosity - not only in this country - this achievement is definitely a remarkable phenomenon. Information about living conditions of the Roma community say the average life span to be 40 years of age; that people are dying of trivial diseases; living in squalid conditions; small percentage of educated people; many illiterates, massive unemployment; total lack of information; thousands of people without personal documents and the chance to realize their basic human rights… Can two MPs or Roma parties change anything in that respect? One shouldn't have any illusions. The same as with other difficult questions, one can realistically expect success only if the parliament be something more than a stage of egoism and partisan rows and conflicts. Otherwise, at the detriment of minorities, as well as all the others, the bulk of important problems will remain unsolvable.
