Gósol votes to leave Lleida in a historic referendum that could reshape Catalonia’s administrative map.
The tiny mountain village of just 200 residents has overwhelmingly chosen to seek integration into Barcelona province, marking an unprecedented move in modern Catalan history.
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Consequently, nearly 90% of participating voters backed the change during Sunday’s popular consultation.
Gósol Votes to Leave Lleida in Landslide Decision
A total of 88 citizens voted in favour of joining Barcelona, while only 12 opted to remain part of Lleida. The non-binding referendum saw approximately half the municipality’s residents cast their ballots between 10am and 2pm. Furthermore, the President of Lleida Provincial Council, Joan Talarn, has committed to respecting the result. He pledged full support for the administrative process ahead in a social media statement on Sunday.
The village of Gósol, located at the foot of the Pedraforca mountain, currently stands as the only town in the Berguedà region not belonging to Barcelona province. According to Ara.cat, this geographical anomaly dates back to historical boundaries drawn along river basins. The Torrentsenta river flows through municipal territory toward Solsonès, thus placing Gósol within Lleida’s jurisdiction.
Mayor Rafael López of Esquerra Republicana celebrated the result as validating a long-standing demand. “We have no problem with the Provincial Council or the people of Lleida,” he explained, “but we don’t feel like we’re from Lleida.” This sentiment highlights identity concerns alongside practical considerations about resource availability.
Practical advantages also drive this historic Gósol vote to leave Lleida. Barcelona province reportedly offers greater resource availability compared to its neighbour. Access to these resources could prove crucial for the survival of a municipality where typically only 100 residents live year-round. The administrative journey, however, will be complex and lengthy.
Now begins a multi-stage process requiring favourable reports from provincial councils, the comarcal council, and the Catalan government. Ultimately, the Spanish Congress must approve any change, as it necessitates modifying provincial division laws. This mirrors the precedent set by the Valencian municipality of Gátova, which successfully transferred from Castellón to Valencia province in 1995 after decades of campaigning.
This represents the first time a Catalan municipality has sought to change provinces, though comarcal shifts have occurred. For instance, Olost voted to return to Osona from Lluçanès just last year. The Gósol vote to leave Lleida therefore sets a significant new precedent in regional administration, demonstrating how local identity and practical needs can challenge historical boundaries established nearly two centuries ago.
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