The past few months have seen an explosion of begging in the French speaking part of Switzerland, particularly in Geneva.
The striking increase in the number of beggars is a result of an altruistic decision on the part of the Geneva authorities to strike laws that permit police to prosecute and fine or arrest beggars. The government went so far as to order the fine monies returned to the beggars.
The response was not long in coming.
The beggars, none of whom are local, and almost all of whom are gypsies from Romania, are bused in (Romanians nationals now have to the right to a 3-month tourist stay) by their organized gypsy leadership and deposited in the morning at every key shopping center, major bank’s entrance, and strategic street corners. They are often furnished with phony prosthetic devices and some of the women hold babies in their laps.
The newspapers are now full of this sudden, imported poverty, which
is affecting Geneva’s self-image and angering many residents, probably most especially those who gave some money and then saw the same sidewalk cripple walking normally or even jogging later in the day to meet his cohorts.
The same little gypsy army from Romania has shown itself to be extremely resourceful at rapidly identifying and sponging off the social services that Geneva offers. They have quickly clogged all the centers serving free meals or offering free shelter.
Politically, the left wing and right wing are arguing through the newspapers and radio over how to deal with the invasion of supplicants from the east. The left wants to take measures against the organizational structure of the beggars, as well as putting in place an aid program for their country of origin, under the charming assumption that the Swiss government can somehow pay them to stay home. The right wing wants to make rigid laws to criminalize begging. The result of such a measure might be the comfortable Swiss jails filling up with gypsies who appreciate free lodging, free meals, and regular access to free medical and barbering services.
Time will tell. Meanwhile, even the undersides of bridges are now filling up with spontaneous gypsy campsites, the overflow that the Salvation Army and other charity organizations cannot accomodate.
