Over 50% of Catalans want independence

A survey has revealed that 60% of Catalans want the region of Catalonia to win independence from Spain.

A majority proportion of Catalans would vote in favour of independence from Spain in a referendum, according to a survey conducted in the Catalonia region.

The findings were released by the Opinion Research Center on Tuesday.

The poll results come after Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy last month said a push by Catalonia’s autonomous government to hold a referendum in November of 2014 should not be allowed to undermine the unity of Spain.

Rajoy said: “The referendum is illegal and will not happen.”

According to the survey, 60% of Catalans polled said that they backed independence, while 22% said they would be against seeking independence. A total of 16% would abstain from voting.

About 87% of Catalans said they would respect the outcome of any vote.

The figures show a slight rise in pro-independence feeling after a similar survey in the Catalonia region last November indicated that 54.7% of participants would vote for independence.