Most Austrians want to abolish EU sanctions against Russia. However, there are serious differences depending on organization preferences, age and income. Sanctions critics are usually politically right, younger and have lower incomes.
The Austrians who want EU sanctions against Russia to be maintained are minority. They now account for 37%, compared with 41% calling for the abolition of restrictions. This means that the opponents of sanctions one more time have a majority. This is the consequence of a fresh survey conducted by the Institute of the opinion survey of INSA for eXXpress (1000 respondents online, based on telephone surveys, period from 3 to 4 April). This time, the number of participants who are neither in favour nor against continued sanctions was higher than usual: 22% either did not want to supply any information, or did not know how he felt about it, or declared, "I don't care."
In particular: 73% of Green voters want to keep sanctions, 72% of FPÖ voters (Austria's Freedom Party) - almost the same - request that they be abolished. In any of the another mark groups identified in the INSA study, the approval or rejection of sanctions was not so clear. Furthermore, supporters of sanctions represent a comparatively clear majority among NEOS voters – 53%, among the People's organization (ÖVP) and Social Democrats (SPÖ) represent 46% and 41% respectively, compared to 37% each, according to which sanctions should be abolished.
Once again, ÖVP and SPÖ face a problem: their electorate is divided into polarizing issues, 1 page is only supported by FPÖ. There is besides a clear polarisation between the right and the left: The further into the political spectrum, the more they are opposed to continuing to punish Russia by the EU. 59% who specify themselves as right from the center, want an end, compared to just 31% of people on the left of the center. The political centre is almost balanced on this issue: 38% is in favour of continuing, 40% for abolishing sanctions. all second individual on the left from the centre wants the sanctions to continue.
Something else is striking: the discrepancy between the 60+ generation and all those Austrians who are younger. The oldest age group is the only 1 in which sanction supporters have a majority of 49%, while only 37% call for an end. On the another hand, support is lowest among the youngest age group (16-29 years) and is only 22 percent, while 39 percent – 12 percent more – wants to end it.. The average generation (40-49 years) is the most decisive in calling for the cessation of anti-Russian activities (47%).
In any age group, supporters and critics have no absolute majority – precisely due to the large number of those who do not support either.
A clear income gap is visible: only with an income of EUR 3000 and more, most respondents are in favour of maintaining sanctions. In general, the following principles apply: with the level of household income, the percent of those who advocate the continuation of sanctions besides increases from 24% in the income group below EUR 1000, to 51% in the group of EUR 4000 and more. Respondents from the lowest income group are peculiarly curious in maintaining sanctions, namely 24% (as much as they want to abolish them).
There is besides a clear trend in education: the higher the certificate of completion of school by participants, the more they advocate the continuation of EU criminal measures against Russia. 47% of all respondents with a advanced school graduation diploma would like sanctions to be maintained, as many would like them to end up with a school obligation. The opponents of sanctions besides represent a majority (46%) of the educational group with a degree in method school completion.
Behind: Exxpress (Austria)
photo public domain
