In view of the mass influx of “refugees” and asylum seekers that has been going on for months, the mood towards immigrants is changing in Austria: According to the current “Integration Barometer”, 67 percent of the population are now against living with “refugees”. A few months ago it was 20 percent less.
The survey is done at regular intervals by the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF). The most recent survey dates from December and the results have now been published. The negative attitude of the population towards refugees and immigrants has increased dramatically.
In the April 2022 survey, things looked different. At that time, only 47 percent (less than half) expressed criticism of “refugees” and immigrants. The main reasons given for rejection were language differences (59 percent), a willingness to use violence and crime (57 percent) and attitudes towards women (56 percent).
Approval for taking in war refugees from Ukraine is also declining significantly. In April last year, they were still supported by 72 percent of those surveyed. In the meantime, the mood has changed: only 59 percent are in favor of accepting refugees from Ukraine.
The Zelensky government in Kiev is also partly responsible for the latter: it has just imposed sanctions on Austrian companies and regularly gives the Vienna government advice on how Austria should deal with its neutrality.
https://freewestmedia.com/2023/02/15/austrias-integration-barometer-shows-dramatic-shift/