Poles split over refugees
PR dla Zagranicy
Alicja Baczyńska
06.10.2015 15:28
Forty-seven percent of Poles are opposed to the planned arrival of several thousand asylum-seekers in the country, exactly the same rate as those in favour of the move, a survey by pollster CBOS shows.
EPA/ZOLTAN MATHE
Support for newcomers from North Africa and the Middle East seeking shelter in the country has gone up by 11 percentage points since last month, while disapproval of their relocation to Poland has declined by eight percentage points.
Opponents cite Poland’s challenging economic situation and a lack of resources for aiding the shelter-seeking fledglings, alongside negative implications stemming from the inflow as the reason for their dissent.
In a report released on Monday, the pollster indicated that a majority of young respondents, around 60 percent, are against taking in several thousand people, as opposed to 20 percent in favour.
Nearly 50 percent of the respondents approving of the government's decision to host the newcomers pointed to temporary assistance as a strategy for helping out the refugees, while eight percent spoke out for their permanent residence in Poland.
Ten percent stated that Poland should not take in any refugees turning up at Europe’s southern flanks.
The survey was taken on 17-23 September, ahead of Poland’s decision to take in 7,000 refugees relocated from Greece and Italy, alongside asylum-seekers based in camps outside the EU. (aba/rk)
Source: IAR