The independence movement does not go back in Catalonia. The data from the latest barometer of the Center d’Estudis d’Opinió (CEO), released this Wednesday, indicate that, in a dichotomous question about independence, the opposites represent 52% of the people surveyed, while the favorable ones they remain at 42%. There are ten points of difference and the trend is clear: those in favor of Catalonia not being an independent State have surpassed those in favor in all the surveys of the CEO, a body dependent on the Generalitat, in the last four years.
In March 2019, it was the last time that supporters of independence won in a CEO survey, which represented 48%, compared to those who did not, 44%. In March 2022, the no to independence marked an all-time high, with 53.3%. In the more than ten years in which this question has been asked of the Catalans, only on two occasions has the 50% barrier for no been exceeded, both times in 2014.
When respondents are asked about their preferences in the relationship between Catalonia and Spain, in the latest CEO barometer, prepared between May 29 and June 26, it is also detected that the population is very divided. 33% say they prefer an independent state and another third, 31%, prefer an autonomous community within Spain, while 23% support a state within a federal state, and only 7% support a region of Spain.
Both among supporters and opponents of independence there is a majority that prefers an agreed path. 32% assure that they prefer the agreed unity of Spain and 30%, the agreed independence. Those in favor of the unity of Spain without negotiation are 11% and those who prefer unilateral independence, 10%. There is 14% who confess that they do not have a defined position on the matter.
By parties, support for independence is in the majority, as expected, among supporters of the CUP (88%), ERC and Juntes (both 82%). On the other hand, those of Ciudadanos, with 96%, are the ones who express the most rejection of the independence of Catalonia, followed by supporters of the PP (93%), Vox (92%), PSC (84%) and En Comú Podem (60%). Those who do not have partisan sympathy also speak 60% against independence.