40% of Latvian population would become refugees if war came

In contrast, around half the population would expect to remain in their homeland, with the remaining 10% undecided on whether to stay or go.

Despite the fact that all political parties are expressing considerable opposition to accepting refugees from the Mediterranean littoral, another poll by the same pollster suggested Latvians have a fairly tolerant attitude to those fleeing warzones.

70% of people said armed conflict was an understandable reason to become a refugee, with around half that number believing religious or ethnic persecution at home was a good enough reason to come to Latvia.

There was overwhelming opposition to economic migration, despite Latvians' own well-documented trend to become economic migrants in other EU countries with just 27% saying improving one's economic prospects was a justifiable reason for leaving their home countries for Latvia.