The Romani civic association Sdružení has endorsed the re-election of Chomutov mayor Ivana Řápková. The association’s chairman, František Kolář, said that as a Romani himself and someone who has been dealing with Romani issues his whole life, he identifies completely with the mayor’s objectives. Ms Řápková, a member of the Civic Democratic Party, sparked a high-profile row with Human Rights Minister Michael Kocáb earlier this year after implementing a controversial system of debt reclamation, sending collectors after defaulters immediately after they receive state benefits. The Sdružení association’s chairman has also appeared on billboards reading “Less Kocábs and more Řápákovás”.

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