Forty-eight percent of respondents are against the region’s independence, with 44.1 percent voters in support of the move. In December 2014, a similar poll conducted by the CEO revealed that 45.5 percent of voters supported secession, and 45.3 percent were against.
Catalan President Artur Mas is also losing popularity, according to the poll. He won 4.42 points out of a possible 10 points in a popularity rating of Catalan politicians.
Despite central government protests, Catalonia went ahead with an informal independence vote late last year. On November 9, 2014, more than 80 percent of Catalans voted for independence. The Spanish government dismissed the vote as unconstitutional and filed complaints with the Constitutional Court.
Following the referendum, Catalan nationalists called snap regional elections to be held on September 27, 2015, which could be yet another attempt by the region to gain independence from Spain.