Survey shows xenophobia in Hungary declines slightly

Xenophobia in Hungary has declined slightly over the past year, while it has remained overall unchanged since 2003, a recent survey the Tarki institute released on Monday showed.

According to the survey conducted last month 29 percent of adult respondents were openly xenophobic stating that all asylum-seekers should be banned from entering Hungary.

Twelve percent can be considered xenophiles for stating just the opposite, while the majority, 59 percent, would give it further consideration whether or not to grant asylum, the survey said.

In this group, the survey noted, rejection towards all type of asylum-seekers has since 2007 either softened or remained unchanged.

Concerning political views the survey showed that xenophobia was seen at an average rate among supporters of the ruling centre-right Fidesz party, whereas it was higher among those backing radical nationalist Jobbik. Supporters of the main opposition Socialists and the green opposition Politics Can Be Different party (LMP) were less xenophobic, the survey said.

The survey revealed that the least welcome would still be Arab and Chinese immigrants, followed by those from Russia, with that ranking practically unchanged over the past four years.

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