madrid barely quarter catalans want continue plan claim independence spain wake dec. 21 regional elections accord poll publish el pais newspaper monday illegal catalan independence referendum oct. plunge spain bad political crisis decades ease sack secessionist catalan authorities madrid government elicit little resistance uncertainty could return pro-independence camp win dec. 21 vote 24 percent poll metroscopia say would like continue independence process elections whereas 71 percent say would prefer politicians find agreement base catalonia stay part spain pro-independence party may fail retain absolute majority seat catalan parliament next month election first part poll publish sunday show however survey margin error 2.4 percent fact support evenly split two side make read conclusions poll difficult telephone poll survey 1,800 catalans nov. 20 nov. 22. failure capture majority regional parliament would heavy blow catalan separatists bill election plebiscite madrid decision impose direct rule region last month oct. referendum produce large majority favor independence turnout 43 percent many oppose breakaway vote catalan separatist party forecast win 46 percent vote slightly 47.7 percent previous election 2015. unionist party combine would account another 46 percent vote less 40 percent last time accord metroscopia poll turnout election former catalan leader carles puigdemont say saturday would important region history predict reach record 80 percent barely quarter catalans want pursue split spain poll