Hungary already had a referendum on the issue in 2016.Continue reading
77 percent of Hungarians are against the European Union sending migrants to Hungary despite the government’s protests. No social group supports Brussels’ plan, even 58 percent of opposition voters reject it, according to the latest opinion poll by Hungarian think tank, Nézőpont Institute.
The survey, conducted between June 12 and 14, interviewed 1,000 people by phone regarding the migrant quota plan that has been on the agenda in Brussels since 2015. The new proposal, recently adopted by EU interior ministers with Hungary voting against it, would require Hungary to take in 8,500 illegal immigrants a year.
They stressed that
the European plan for the reconsidered migrant quota contradicts the principle of “no foreign population may be settled in Hungary,” which was included in the Hungarian Fundamental Law after the 2016 Hungarian referendum.
In 2016, the Hungarian government held a referendum on the issue, asking Hungarians whether they agreed with the European Union to impose the compulsory resettlement of non-Hungarians in Hungary without the consent of Parliament. Though the referendum was technically invalid, as less than half of those eligible to vote cast a valid ballot, it is worth pointing out that more than 98 percent of those who voted (3.3. million people) said ‘NO’ to the migrant quotas.
Now, the recent EU proposal has already led to the possibility of a similar referendum in Poland.
In its research, the Nézőpont Institute asked whether Hungarians consider it acceptable for a decision to be made in Brussels on such an important issue without the Hungarian government’s consent.
According to the results, more than three quarters (77%) of those polled agree that the European Union should only be able to send “asylum-seeking immigrants” to Hungary with the consent of the Hungarian government.
The rejection of the migrant quota, which seeks to override nation-state sovereignty, represents a majority position in all social groups, but even exceeds party political preferences, the institute stressed.
Even a majority of opposition voters are against the principle of a migrant quota (58 percent), with only a third finding it acceptable (32 percent).
Regarding the governing parties (Fidesz and KDNP) electorate, 93 percent would insist on the protection of nation-state competences and oppose the mandatory resettlement of migrants under the quota.
Featured photo via Facebook/SOS MEDITERRANEE France
