This is the second highest approval rate among the seven EU countries that have not yet adopted the euro.Continue reading
64 percent of Hungarians believe that the introduction of the euro would have a positive impact on their situation, and only 26 percent are rather worried about the negative effects. A recent survey conducted by the Hungarian Republikon Institute shows that only in Romania do people expect more benefits from the euro than in Hungary: 71 percent of respondents expect positive effects from the euro.
This article was originally published on our sister-site, Ungarn Heute.
The analysis examined opinions on the introduction of the euro in the EU countries outside the eurozone that could join the monetary union. These countries are Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Sweden.
The survey shows that Hungarians are not so optimistic about the timing: 26% expect to be able to pay in euros in five years, 42% in 10 years, and 26% do not expect that Hungary could join the zone in the foreseeable future.
The overwhelming majority believe that the country is not yet ready to join the eurozone (67%), and only slightly more than a quarter of respondents think we are ready.
Sweden has the highest proportion of those who believe the national currency should stay. A majority also voted against the euro in a referendum in 2003.
The survey also examined how Hungarian respondents view the introduction of the euro in relation to their party affiliation. The results show that the majority of those who voted for the Fidesz-KDNP also believe that Hungary should adopt the euro if it meets the criteria. The graphs show that opposition sympathizers are more supportive of the possible introduction of the euro.
The introduction of the euro is at the center of the election program of opposition leader Péter Márki-Zay. In January 2022, the candidate for prime minister declared that in the event of a change of government, the common European currency could be introduced within five years. The euro issue in Hungary has been on the agenda since the country joined the EU in 2004. Gergely Gulyás said as recently as 2021 that the introduction of the common currency would mean a competitive disadvantage, as Hungary’s monetary policy could no longer be determined by the Hungarian Central Bank.
Source: 24.hu, Portfolio, Republicon
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