Pyrénées-Orientales to retain name following local vote

The department of Pyrénées-Orientales in Northern Catalonia will retain its current name following a local consultation held between June 22 and August 15. The existing name, Pyrénées-Orientales, secured 47% of the vote.

The second most popular option was ‘Pirineus Catalans’ (Catalan Pyrenees), which received 42% of the votes. This option was championed by language advocacy groups such as Plataforma per la Llengua and Òmnium Cultural, who argued it was the only choice that reflected the region's Catalan identity. A third option, ‘Pirineus Mediterranis’, received 11% of the vote.

Participation in the vote was relatively low, with approximately 10% of the 78,000 registered voters participating. Despite the narrow margin, the result was seen as a setback for proponents of the ‘Pirineus Catalans’ name. Hermeline Malherbe, president of the department, noted that the 42% support for the Catalan-focused name demonstrates a significant interest in Catalan identity that must be taken into account. The results are subject to ratification by the Council of State.