18.03.2014 - 09:23
60% of the Catalan people are in favor of Catalonia becoming an independent state, according to the latest polls (pdf) from the Center of Opinion Studies, which was previewed by the radio station RAC-1. By polling districts, those in favor of independence are 58% in Barcelona (whose metropolitan area population of 5.3 million makes up about 70% of Catalonia’s total population), 63% in Girona, 71% in Lleida, and 61% in Tarragona. In addition, some 87% of Catalans say they would abide by the result of the referendum and 74% believe that a referendum is the best way to move the process forward.
To the question, “Are you totally in favor, mostly in favor, mostly against, or totally against Catalonia becoming a new state in Europe in the coming years”, the answers were as follows: 40.2% totally in favor, 19.5% mostly in favor, 10.8% mostly against, 18.9% totally against. 6.8% said they didn’t know, and 3.9% didn’t answer.
The poll also asks people how they feel about the possibility that “in the next few years Catalonia may become a new state in Europe”. The most popular responses were excitement, hope, and uncertainty, followed by caution, confidence, and at some distance, fear.
The poll was taken between December 4 and 17, last year, that is right before and after the time when the date and question for the referendum were agreed on.
