Poll shows most people in Catalonia would vote against becoming independent from Spain

MADRID – A Catalan government opinion poll says most people would vote against having the region become independent from Spain.

The Opinion Studies Center poll on Friday said 50 percent of possible voters it surveyed would reject independence while 42 percent favor it. The poll said 5.8 percent did not know and 1.3 percent did not answer.

The center's last poll in March showed 48 percent opposed to independence and 44 percent in favor.

Catalonia's ruling Convergence party hopes to use the regional election Sept. 27 as a referendum in its push for independence. Spain's government has ruled out secession.

The survey interviewed 2,000 people June 2-24 and has a margin of error of 2.7 percent.

Catalonia, whose capital is Barcelona, represents a fifth of Spain's 1.1-trillion euro ($1.5 trillion) GDP.