Political discourse on Ukrainian refugees is shifting across Central Europe, showing growing anti-immigrant sentiment despite initial support.
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The Russian-Ukrainian war is a more divisive political issue in Hungary than in other European countries, where there is general support for Ukraine’s war efforts and potential EU membership. The status of Ukrainian refugees within the EU is no longer taboo; while about a year ago it was difficult to find politicians opposing aid to Ukrainian refugees, many on the far-right in Central Europe now argue that refugees are overburdening their social welfare systems. In Poland, President Karol Nawrocki vetoed an amendment to legislation providing assistance to Ukrainian citizens, stating that family allowances should only go to Ukrainians who work and pay taxes, emphasizing a “Poland first” stance. Data suggests many Ukrainians in Poland contribute significantly to the budget while receiving relatively little support. Similar sentiments are emerging elsewhere; for instance, Czech politician Andrej Babiลก’s party has made statements suggesting preferential treatment for Ukrainian women regarding reproductive freedom. Populists in the Czech Republic promote myths that the state serves Ukrainian refugees better than its own citizens or that Ukrainians do not need aid. However, facts contradict this narrative: while many Ukrainians are registered, only a fraction receive support, and their benefits can be lower than minimum local welfare payments. In Romania, public concern regarding Ukrainian immigrants is relatively low according to recent surveys, though there is a noticeable shift in public opinion concerning the war itself, with increasing acceptance of Russia’s territorial claims.
