Solidarity in Poland was huge when war broke out in Ukraine. Since then, Poland has been considered one of the most important receiving countries for Ukrainian refugees. Up to 1.3 million people from Ukraine currently live in Poland. But more than a year after the outbreak of war, the welcoming culture in Poland is beginning to crumble. Freelance journalist Jan Opielka explains how declining solidarity with Ukrainian refugees in Poland is making itself felt.
SRF News: How is the declining solidarity towards Ukrainian refugees shown?
Jan Opielka: On the one hand in surveys. Although 73 percent of Poles are still in favor of taking in Ukrainian refugees and helping them, a good 20 percent are against it. The proportion of those who absolutely want to help has also fallen sharply.
It’s not hostility, but greater skepticism.
But you also notice it on the street: When I talk to people, a clearer skepticism is noticeable than it was a few months ago. What is important, however, is that it is not hostility, but greater skepticism.
At the beginning of the war, solidarity in Poland was huge. Why is she picking it up now?
The new situation is now reflected concretely in people’s lives. Let’s take the rental situation as an example: apartment prices have risen significantly, both rents and the purchase prices of real estate. This is partly due to the fact that there are now many Ukrainian refugees. There are practically no collective accommodations or refugee homes in Poland, so the Ukrainians rent apartments themselves.
Legend:
The initial wave of solidarity in Poland towards Ukrainian refugees has leveled off. The effects are slowly becoming noticeable.
KEYSTONE/EPO/ROMAN PILIPEY
In addition, people are also noticing that the state has fewer funds available for really urgent investments, such as strengthening social infrastructure, especially in the healthcare sector. What you see instead is that the state is investing in arms, for itself and also to help Ukraine.
The refugees are also making themselves felt on the labor market. In almost no other country have so many Ukrainian women found a job as in Poland. How does this affect the job market?
About 60 percent of the refugees have taken up work or even founded a small company. They also pay into social security. At the same time, the purchasing power and sales of shops also increase. That’s the positive side.
With more people looking for work, Polish workers have a more difficult basis for negotiating wage increases.
On the other hand, because more people are looking for work on the labor market, Polish employees have a more difficult basis for negotiating possible wage increases. And that would be urgently needed because inflation in Poland is very high. It is between 15 and 17 percent.
If we look at it again as a whole: Can one observe concrete effects of this declining solidarity?
Many Ukrainians say they perceive a certain detachment in the Polish population. Politically, one can see that the nationalist-libertarian Confederacia is the only opposition party that is gaining approval in parliament. She has a very Ukraine-skeptical attitude.
Also an important aspect: A month ago there were big protests by Polish farmers who protested against the imports of Ukrainian wheat because they affected the Polish market, which led to price reductions. The Polish government reacted to these protests and promised help there, including a new social program.
Silvia Staub conducted the interview.