Population baseline
11.3million Roma
Mid-range population estimate across the 49 national parliamentary systems covered by the baseline.
Empowering Roma.
Transforming European democracy.
Roma are one of Europe's largest democratic constituencies—yet remain severely underrepresented in public office.
The arithmetic ofrepresentation.
National representation
15voting Roma MPs
Recorded across 49 national parliaments; the upper population benchmark is about 188 seats.
European representation
1current Roma MEP
The mandate began through an in-term replacement; the population benchmark is about 11 seats.
Who we are
The first Roma-led, non-partisan political foundation operating across Europe.
RFD supports no party or candidate. It builds the conditions for Roma to organise, participate freely and exercise public authority.
About RFD Our work
Elections are moments.
Democracy is built across the full cycle.
RFD works before, during and after the vote—organising constituencies, protecting participation and equipping Roma officeholders and administrations to govern.
Explore our work
Impact
Evidence across
the full cycle.
Selected, documented results across Europe, 2019–2025.
Explore our impactConstituencies mobilise.
Roma grassroots constituencies engaged across eight countries around shared priorities and democratic participation.
View evidenceParticipation increases.
Documented turnout increases across priority Roma constituencies where low turnout and multiple barriers constrained electoral access.
View evidenceGoverning authority delivers.
Documented public allocations and formal budget commitments across five countries for housing, education, infrastructure and public delivery.
View evidenceEvidence, not assertion.
Impact records what changed and states the limits of attribution. The Roma for Democracy Index measures the democratic conditions that still have to change.
Institutional ecosystem
No institution
does this alone.
RFD carries the power mandate within the Roma Foundation for Europe ecosystem, alongside Roma-led institutions advancing arts and culture, education, and entrepreneurship.
Explore the ecosystem
News & resources
From the field.
Into the public record.
The public record of RFD's analysis, evidence and institutional response—grounded in Roma political reality across Europe.
View all news & resources
Sherutnipe: turning individual mandates into shared governing experience
In Skopje and Šuto Orizari, Roma public officeholders from across Europe came together as peers for the first time — bringing with them years of experience in turning political representation into decisions, budgets and public policy.
Read the briefLatest publications
Sherutnipe: turning individual mandates into shared governing experience
Sherutnipe: The First Transnational Gathering of Roma Public Office Holders in Europe
Roma expertise inside Europe’s democracy hackathon.
Explore the full record
The Cost of Exclusion Falls and the Price of Resistance Rises
The Europeans Europe Ignores
Roma Broke the Vote Machine in Bulgaria
Roma Voters Just Delivered a Democratic Masterclass in Hungary. Now Tisza Must Deliver for Them.
Record 1 of 7: Sherutnipe: turning individual mandates into shared governing experience
Roma move democracy forward.
Mobilised constituencies. Protected participation. Governing authority that delivers.