Survey: More than half want tighter immigration controls

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Three out of five Finns feel that Finland has too relaxed an immigration policy.
      According to a fresh survey, an overwhelming majority, 91 per cent, feel that it should be easier to extradite immigrants convicted of a crime.
      On the other hand, only 13 per cent of Finns are opposed to immigration for work. Over half would not object to having a refugee reception centre near their home.
     
The information is from a survey on immigration attitudes commissioned by the Homma association, and conducted by the market research company Taloustutkimus.
      Helsingin Sanomat is publishing the key results of the survey with the permission of Homma, which takes a critical view of immigration.
     
Supporters of the True Finns party are the most critical toward Finland’s current immigration policy, with 97 per cent feeling that it is too liberal.
      Two thirds of supporters of the National Coalition Party, the Christian Democrats, and the Centre Party feel the same way.
      The most liberal attitudes are among the supporters of the Green League and the Swedish People’s Party.
     
Nearly half of all respondents want to make it more difficult for asylum seekers and quota refugees, as well as the family members of those who have been granted asylum, to enter the country.
      The opinions among supporters of the various parties are divided roughly along the same lines as the responses on immigration policy in general.
      The exception concerns immigration for work, which is favoured by supporters of the National Coalition Party.
     
In the survey, respondents were given a number of statements, and were asked to indicate on a five-point scale the extent to which they agree or disagree with the statement.
      Three out of four respondents would place tighter restrictions on the immigration of certain groups.
      The survey did not offer specific alternatives as to which groups might not be desirable, but in a space left for the respondent’s own comments, groups that were mentioned included those who want a better standard of living, but do not want to work, criminals, Muslims, and Somalis.
     
A majority (62 per cent) of respondents felt that views taken by a party or a candidate on immigration policy would have influence their choice of candidates in Parliamentary elections only to a slight degree.
      Supporters of the True Finns overwhelmingly saw immigration policy as the decisive factor guiding their vote in the next election.
      Slightly over a two thirds of supporters of the Centre, the Swedish People’s Party and the SDP felt that immigration policy would have little or no impact on decisions at the polling booth.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Thors: Deliberate deception in immigration debate (22.3.2010)
  Foreign Minister Stubb defends immigration and multiculturalism (19.3.2010)
  Survey: Finns´ attitudes toward immigration have become more negative (15.3.2010)

Helsingin Sanomat