Perpignan, Northern Catalonia, is at the centre of a debate over regional identity as the organisation Sí al País Català (Yes to the Catalan Country) demands the inclusion of "País Català" in a public consultation on renaming the Pyrénées-Orientales department. The group is urging the Departmental Council to allow this name option to be put to a popular vote on equal terms with other proposals.
According to Sí al País Català, "País Català" is not a new or fringe term, but an expression deeply established in the territory. They point to a France Bleu Roussillon survey from January 2024, which involved around 17,000 participants. In that poll, "País Català" received 56% of the votes, making it the clear frontrunner.
Beyond survey data, Sí al País Català highlights the term's regular presence in public spaces. Several municipalities in the department have added "País Català" to their entrance signs. The name also appears in institutional tourism communications, including those from the Departmental Council itself. Furthermore, numerous sports, cultural, and civic organisations in the region commonly use the term.
Calls for Respecting Public Opinion
The organisation believes these examples show that "País Català" is a reality rooted in social and associative practices, rather than an abstract idea. They question whether the Departmental Council is being influenced by what they call the "great Catalan identity erasure" promoted by Perpignan's municipality, following the removal of the slogan "Perpinyà, la catalana" (Perpignan, the Catalan).
Sí al País Català is urging Hermeline Malherbe, president of the Departmental Council, and all elected officials to respect the diversity of public expression. They insist that the "País Català" option must be part of the consultation.
The upcoming consultation will determine the future official name of the department, which is known in Catalan as Northern Catalonia. The inclusion of "País Català" could significantly impact how the region's identity is formally recognised.
