Support for Catalonia's secession from Spain appears to be waning ahead of the Dec. 21 regional elections, Reuters reported, citing a poll.
A Metroscopia poll published in El Pais newspaper on Nov. 27 showed only 24% of Catalans want the independence process to continue after the elections, while 71% preferred Catalonia remaining a part of Spain.
According to the first part of the survey published Nov. 26, pro-independence parties may not be able to hold onto an absolute majority in the Catalan parliament in the elections, a result that would be a major blow to pro-independence parties that see the elections as a referendum on the Spanish government's decision to impose direct rule on the region.
Unionist parties are expected to secure 46% of votes, up from less than 40% in 2015, and pro-independence parties are also expected to win 46% of votes, down from 47.7% in the previous election. The poll's results are based on a telephone survey of 1,800 Catalans between Nov. 20 and Nov. 22.
A large majority of Catalans voted for independence in an illegal referendum on Oct. 1, but turnout was only 43%. The turnout for the Dec. 21 elections is expected to reach a record 80%, according to the report.
Spain's benchmark stock market index, IBEX 35, gained 0.51% to 10,105.20 as of 10:20 a.m. ET.
