Catalans want referendum on independence - poll

October 28, 2012|Reuters

* 85 pct of Catalans want vote on independence

* Just over half would back breakaway move

* But would be happy with more say over finances

* Nationalist CiU party seen winning Nov. 25 elections

By Nigel Davies

MADRID, Oct 28 (Reuters) - An overwhelming majority in the
powerful northeastern region of Catalonia want a referendum on
independence, an opinion poll showed on Sunday, highlighting
increasing dissatisfaction with Spain's central government as it
struggles with economic crisis.

Although a referendum has been rejected by Madrid, which
says it would be against the constitution, the poll published by
La Vanguardia newspaper also showed a majority in favour of
independence in Catalonia, one of Spain's richer regions.

With Catalans arguing they are unfairly treated by the
central government and could better manage their finances on
their own, the poll showed 81.5 percent wanted a referendum.

Fifty-three percent said they would vote in favour of
independence, while 35 percent would vote against.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy reiterated on Saturday that a
referendum could not be held as it would run counter to the
constitution, introduced in 1978 to underpin Spain's transition
to democracy after the death of dictator Francisco Franco.

Rajoy said in a speech in Barcelona, the regional capital,
that Catalonia needed Spain as much as Spain needed Catalonia.

A secession is seen as unlikely by most analysts, but the
demands for a referendum show the growing strains in Spain's
post-Franco political consensus as the country struggles to cut
debt while facing unemployment running at 25 percent.

Regional leader Artur Mas has called for an early election
on Nov. 25, after his claims for more fiscal autonomy were
rejected by the central government last month.

The poll showed that were Catalonia to be given more control
over its finances and have its own tax agency like that of the
Basque Country then only 43 percent would still back a move
towards independence.

It also showed that Mas' nationalist party Convergencia i
Unio (CiU) would win the election comfortably with 40.9 percent
of the vote.

The election will be an extra headache for Rajoy who is
trying to reassure financial markets Spain can bring its budget
and economy under control.

The poll showed Rajoy's People's Party winning 11.4 percent
of the vote, down one percentage point from Catalonia's last
election in 2010.

Protests have grown in Catalonia against cuts the country's
17 autonomous regions have been forced to make in education and
healthcare, the two main areas they have control over.

The Catalan Socialist Party (PSC) would remain the second
force in the region with 13.4 percent of the vote, a fall of
five percentage points from the last election.

(Editing by Myra MacDonald)