US survey: Number of EU supporter Hungarians drastically dropped, Huxit follows?
Last week, we reported that even the wealthiest Hungarian, Thomas Peterffy, believes there could be a Huxit in the future, despite its potentially devastating impact on the Hungarian economy. Recently, the Pew Research Centre (Pew) has been monitoring changes in Hungarians’ attitudes towards the EU, revealing a significant decline in the number and proportion of supporters.
As previously noted, it’s not just Mr Peterffy who envisions a scenario where Hungary might exit the European Union; even a Hungarian university lecturer, András Hettyey, from Budapest’s University of Public Service, has expressed this sentiment. He likened the Hungary-EU relationship to a troubled marriage, suggesting that although a Huxit might not be feasible in the short term, in 5-10 years, as Hungary becomes a net contributor to the EU’s budget, this question may receive a different response.
Evidently, Hungarian society’s sentiment towards the EU has considerably changed. According to a recent survey conducted by the American Pew Research Center, there has been a dramatic decline in the number of Hungarians who support the EU. In contrast, Poland has witnessed the opposite trend, where nine out of ten people maintain a positive view of the European community. Even the former governing party, PiS, which campaigned with anti-EU slogans criticising Brussels for frozen funds and rule of law concerns, could not sway people’s attitudes.
Hungarians are more pro-Russian than the EU average
Pew’s findings indicate that Hungarians exhibit a more pro-Russian stance than the EU average, a perspective that has remained unchanged even in the wake of the turmoil in Ukraine.
However, the Orbán government’s anti-Brussels campaign, highlighting the importance of safeguarding Hungary’s sovereignty, appears to have been more effective. In Hungary, support for the EU has dropped by 10% in just one year. Consequently, Hungary stands as one of the most eurosceptic states in the European Union. While 59% of its citizens maintain a positive view of the EU, the EU average is 69%. Meanwhile, 39% of Hungarians hold a negative attitude towards the European alliance, in contrast to the EU average of only 31%.
Nonetheless, when compared to France or Germany, the decline is not that drastic. In France, the decrease is 9%, with only 57% of the population expressing a positive opinion of the EU. In Germany, the drop is 7%, but a significant majority, 71%, still maintain a favourable stance towards the EU, 444.hu wrote.
Interestingly, in Greece, 50% of the population views the EU unfavourably, while 49% hold a favourable view, making them the most eurosceptic member state.
Thought-provoking statistics came from non-EU members. For instance, 83% of South Koreans, 70% of Kenyans and 66% of the British regard the EU favourably.
Hungarians are not the most EU-sceptics
It’s worth noting that in Hungary, the lowest favourable rating was recorded in 2018, at only 57%. The highest was in 2022, with 69%, but this declined to 59% in just one year, likely due to Viktor Orbán’s ongoing anti-Brussels campaign. This is corroborated by Pew’s ideology chart, which reveals that only 54% of right-wing voters in Hungary support the EU, while the figure is 81% for left-wing voters. This left-right divide is at +27, the second largest in the EU, surpassed only by the Netherlands (+29).
When considering the change from ’22 to ’23, the most substantial decrease was witnessed in Hungary, followed by France (-9%), Germany and the Netherlands (-7%) and Sweden (-6%).
For instance, in France (Orbán’s new ally, as discussed HERE), the lowest rating was in 2016, at only 38%, though it’s important to note that the UK departed from the EU when this figure stood at 44%.
You can access all the Pew data HERE.
Let’s leave! Join the Brits in the Land of Milk and Honey. Going swimmingly.
Our Politicians and population do love the EU money, though! Addictive. Those stupid Net Contributor countries…
That huxit hangover is only going to hit one country.
Hungary is not going to leave, don’t be silly. However, disaffection will grow inexorably until the E.U. returns back to basics: economic and commercial cooperation. The more the E.U. pushes for political, military, and increasingly “cultural” integration, while coming down hard on those who step out of line the slightest, the more people will get fed up. It’s not going to end well; history is full of precedents of overbearing federated unions going up in smoke, often literally.
Read the book THE STRANGE DEATH OF EUROPE by one of the most brilliant guys in Europe – a gay Brit. The EU is the biggest player in sending your children to death. There was reason the Brits left- only the wealthy and ruling class have any advantage to the relationship- they would love to be leader in the NWO