--- description: That's according to an informal vote organized by pro-independence groups on Sunday, after a Spanish court rejected a formal referendum. title: Catalans Want Out image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt50ceb75b83d926ec/698767f035ba6fb3c1c053d3/spain-catalonia-indep_fitz.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Most Catalans Want Independence From Spain According to an Informal Vote by [Rishi Iyengar](/author/rishi-iyengar/) ## Rishi Iyengar Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Nov 10, 2014 4:09 AM CUT  Pro independence supporters celebrate the results of an informal poll for the independence of Catalonia in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Pro independence supporters celebrate the results of an informal poll for the independence of Catalonia in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday,Emilio Morenatti—AP by [Rishi Iyengar](/author/rishi-iyengar/) ## Rishi Iyengar Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Nov 10, 2014 4:09 AM CUT More than 80% of people in Spain’s autonomous Catalonia region support full independence, an [informal vote](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29982960 "undefined") organized by pro-independence activists revealed on Sunday. Catalonia’s Vice President Joana Ortega said over two million people took part in the poll, the _BBC_ reports. “We have earned the right to a referendum,” said Catalan President Artur Mas, hailing the results of the non-binding vote. A Spanish constitutional court had earlier rejected a formal referendum to decide the fate of the region. Catalans have been pushing for independence for years, citing economic and cultural alienation from the rest of the country. But the Spanish government dismissed the poll as invalid. “The government considers this to be a day of political propaganda organized by pro-independence forces and devoid of any kind of democratic validity,” Spain’s Justice Minister Rafael Catala said in a statement. [Read more at _BBC_](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29982960 "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3575296/catalans-catalonia-catalunya-independence-spain-poll-referendum/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3575296/catalans-catalonia-catalunya-independence-spain-poll-referendum/"},"headline":"Most Catalans Want Independence From Spain According to an Informal Vote","datePublished":"2014-11-10T04:09:04.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-21T11:19:41.149Z","description":"The poll was organized by pro-independence groups after a Spanish court rejected a formal referendum","url":"https://time.com/3575296/catalans-catalonia-catalunya-independence-spain-poll-referendum/","keywords":["Spain","Poll","referendum","vote","Catalonia","independence"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt50ceb75b83d926ec/698767f035ba6fb3c1c053d3/spain-catalonia-indep_fitz.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Rishi Iyengar","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/rishi-iyengar/"}],"articleSection":"World","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt50ceb75b83d926ec/698767f035ba6fb3c1c053d3/spain-catalonia-indep_fitz.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Spain Catalonia Independence","caption":"Spain Catalonia Independence","creditText":"Emilio Morenatti—AP","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/world/","name":"World"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3575296/catalans-catalonia-catalunya-independence-spain-poll-referendum/","name":"Most Catalans Want Independence From Spain According to an Informal Vote"}}]}] ```