Access to housing remains the biggest concern for 28% of Catalan citizens, according to the latest Barometer of the Centre d'Estudis d'Opinió (CEO). Following this are immigration (10%), citizen insecurity (10%), and, at some distance, dissatisfaction with politics and healthcare, both at 8%.
These are the results of the first wave of the 2026 Political Opinion Barometer, conducted between May 21 and June 25 with a representative sample of 2,000 people over 18 years of age, and presented this Thursday by the director of the organization, Joan Rodríguez Teruel.
Housing has been the most cited problem for at least a year, although it has dropped 3 points compared to the previous survey. Immigration has remained stable around 10% in recent CEO waves, while citizen insecurity has registered a slight increase to that same percentage.
By political affiliation, housing tops the list of problems for voters of all parties represented in the Parliament, except in the case of the PP, whose voters point to citizen insecurity as the main issue, and Vox and Aliança Catalana, who prioritize immigration.
By age, access to housing appears as the main problem in all generational groups: for 35% of those between 18 and 24 years old; 48% of respondents aged 25 to 34; 26% of those between 35 and 49; 25% of people aged 50 to 64, and 24% of those over 64 years old.
Assessment of the Government and the Central Government
Regarding institutional management, the study detects a better rating for the Government of the Generalitat than for the central Executive. The Government's performance receives an average score of 4.8 out of 10, while that of the Spanish Government stands at 4.2.
61% of the people interviewed approve of the Government presided over by Salvador Illa, compared to 34% who disapprove. In the case of Pedro Sánchez's Government, 51% approve and 47% disapprove.
Preferences on the Catalunya-Spain relationship
Regarding Catalonia's political integration within the State, 36% of respondents favor Catalonia being an independent state. This option is ahead of that of an autonomous community within Spain (30%), a state in a federal Spain (22%), and a region of Spain (7%).
It is the first time since June 2023 that the alternative of an independent state surpasses that of an autonomous community, which had been the preferred option in recent polls, with values between 31% and 36%. In that same period, the independence option was moving in a slightly lower range, between 28% and 32%.
In the direct question about support for independence, the 'no' vote maintains its advantage —majority since 2019— with 51%, compared to 45% who lean towards 'yes'.
Social Perception of Corruption
In a political context marked by various corruption cases, the CEO has included several specific questions. 59% consider that corruption is widespread among political leaders, 33% believe it is quite widespread, 6% think it is little, and 1% that it is not widespread at all.
When asked about citizens in general, the perception changes: 34% maintain that corruption is widespread, 46% that it is quite widespread, 15% that it is little, and 2% that it is not at all.
World Leaders and the Figure of Pope Leo XIV
The fieldwork was carried out before and after the visit of Pope Leo XIV to Catalonia, a leader on whom opinion is also sought. He is the international leader with the highest approval rating, with 59%, ahead of Emmanuel Macron (50%), Xi Jinping (47%), Ursula von der Leyen (47%), Friedrich Merz (42%), Giorgia Meloni (39%), Vladimir Putin (13%), and Donald Trump (12%).
According to 33% of respondents, Leo XIV has maintained a line similar to that of Pope Francis in his pontificate; 28% perceive a more conservative orientation, and 15% consider it more progressive.
Rodríguez Teruel emphasizes that the interest in the figure of the Pope extends beyond the scope of practicing Catholics, a minority group in Catalonia: "Today, figures at the global level who connect with ideological, political, or spiritual definitions can reach a wider audience than that to which they are objectively intended."
"Not all practicing Catalans attach importance to the figure of the Pope, and the majority or many of those who do attach importance to the figure of the Pope are not practicing Catholics, and in some cases are not even Catholics," he stated.
Use of Artificial Intelligence in Catalonia
The barometer also incorporates questions about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) among the Catalan population. 17% state they use it several times a day, 9% once a day, 14% several times a week, 7% once a week, 9% once a month, and 44% declare they never use it.
The study detects a marked generational effect and a gender nuance in the use of AI. Among those who never use it are 75% of men and 82% of women over 65 years old; 52% of women and 46% of men aged 50 to 64; 29% of women and 23% of men aged 35 to 49; 18% of women and 13% of men aged 25 to 34, and 10% of women and 5% of men aged 18 to 24 years.