Journey of a Romani From Tent to Parliament

Özcan Purçu is one of the pre-candidates with Romani background who are poised to run in the upcoming general election.

He was born in a tent located in a Romani neighborhood in the western district of Söke. This was where he grew up as well. 

Earlier, he decided to become a district governor as they were the only authorities that handled people with Roma background. 

Purçu studies Public Administration at Uludağ University. However, he was unable to find a spot in the state administration, never mind the governorship.  

As soon as he understood that he was unable to career in state administration, he joined the right struggle for Romani people. 

Now he is a pre-candidate from Republican People’s Party (CHP). CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu had annouced earlier that they would have candidates with Roma background. This candidate is expected to be Özcan Purçu. He was also a candidate in the previous elections from İzmir, however he was at the bottom of the omni-listing at rank #11. 

Since 2005, Purçu is the representative of European Roma and Travellers Forum Turkey. He is also a member of Roma People’s Right Forum (ROMFO). He is also one of the few who is fluent in Roma language.

Purçu is co-founder of children and women’s center. 

He is 37 years old and has one child. 

Some of the highlights from the interview [originally in Turkish] are as follows:

* Why did authorities fail to draft a 5-year strategy plan? Turkey is the only country in Europe without a strategy plan for Romani people. We still have no data on the demographics. No progress has been made as they didn’t start from a sincere point.  

* We now want to build study centers, educational facilities and shelters for women like in the southern province of Mersin under Republican People’s Party. These are tangible things. An employment policy could be implemented for cities according to their specific needs. For instance in Mersin, women with Romani background make umbrellas out of pikes, but it can be something else for Edirne.

* Romani people problem can be a trouble for anyone soon, because the situation came to a point of explosion. There are no jobs, there are no homes, there is no food. There is no professional knowledge or skills either. How long will this last? This is a social risk. 

* There are only 600 student university students with a Romani background. There are many who are illiterate. Who will stop this? (NV/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.