NEARLY six in 10 Basque residents want to see a referendum on the region's independence – but four in 10 would vote to stay in Spain and more than one in 10 would abstain, says a recent survey.
A total of 59% of those interviewed in a stratified regional poll, the 'Eusko-Barometer', believe the people should at least be given a formal voice concerning whether or not the Basque Country should secede from Spain.
But only 39% would definitely vote for independence – another 31% would vote against it, 18% say they are 'not sure', and 12% would not vote at all.
Around 800 interviews were carried out on a microcosm of the region's population, and also concerned questions such as a possible referendum on whether or not Spain's Constitution should be amended, 38 years after it was first signed.
Two thirds, or 67%, say they are happy with the Magna Carta as it stands, whilst 37% would vote to change it, considering that it needs to be updated to reflect values of the 21st century rather than of the late 1970s.
Of those who did not categorically support a Basque independence referendum, 30% gave an outright 'no', 3% were not sure, and 8% were not bothered either way.
Three in five, or 60%, say they feel Basque and Spanish, rather than one or the other – 36% in equal measures, although 22% felt 'entirely Basque' and only 5% 'entirely Spanish'.
This is the second survey in as many years which shows Basque nationalism is falling out of fashion.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com