Lívia Járóka

Lívia Járóka, born on October sixth, nineteen seventy-four, is a prominent Hungarian politician and anthropologist. She has made history as the second Romani individual and the first Romani woman to be elected to the European Parliament, first joining as part of the Fidesz list in two thousand four. Her election marks a significant milestone in representation for the Romani community in Europe.

Raised in Sopron, a town located near Hungary's western border with Austria, Járóka's heritage is a blend of ethnic Roma from her father and Hungarian from her mother. She pursued higher education with determination, earning a Master’s degree in sociology from the Warsaw campus of the Central European University, supported by a scholarship from the Open Society Institute. Her academic journey continued in Britain, where she focused on anthropology, particularly on Romani issues and culture.

In her personal life, Járóka is a mother of two, having welcomed a daughter in August two thousand three and a son in two thousand seven. She achieved her PhD in Social Anthropology from University College London in two thousand twelve, further solidifying her expertise in her field.

Despite her achievements, Járóka has faced criticism for her perceived defense of the treatment of Hungarian Roma by her party, Fidesz. She has also refrained from condemning Fidesz's campaign against George Soros and the party's criticisms of her alma mater, the Central European University, which has raised questions about her stance on these contentious issues.