NEWS (IMMIGRATION)

Reports show Hungarians mistrust immigrants

Most Hungarians believe that Hungary is a very attractive destination for immigrants, according to a poll conducted by Tárki last year.

Some 58% of respondents believe that a foreign ethnic group will settle in Hungary in large numbers in the future. Of them 52% anticipate an influx of Chinese, 29% of Jews and Israelis, 25% expects Arabs, 19% expect Africans to move here and 11% Slovaks.

Overall, 35% of respondents favour tighter immigration regulations, while 46% somewhat agreed with that idea and only 5% disagree.

The idea of keeping immigrants under close surveillance was favoured by 63% of respondents, and 59% agreed that there should be a database in which the racial affiliation of perpetrators is recorded.

In addition, 55% agreed that a rise in immigrants increases the threat of terrorism.

Nearly half of the respondents would not accept Roma as neighbours, 43% said the same of Arabs, while Chinese are rejected by 33%.

Most of those who are more accepting of Jews, Africans, Arabs or Chinese have higher education, while those most hostile have completed only eight years of schooling.

Source: Hungary Around the Clock