Hungarian Gypsies Now Self-Governing

Hungary’s Gypsies, by far the country’s largest minority, on Monday became the first Gypsies in Central and Eastern Europe to elect their own governing council.

It will administer funds from Budapest and lobby for Gypsy causes.

According to 1993 legislation on minorities, Hungary has a Gypsy population estimated at almost half a million.

The 53-member national council of Gypsies was elected at a gathering of 1,696 representatives from across Hungary.