The bid to rename the French department of Pirineos Orientales to reflect its Catalan heritage has failed. In a public consultation that concluded on August 15, the current name secured 47% of the votes, ahead of the alternative 'Pirineos Catalanes', which received 42%. The third option, 'Pirineos Mediterráneos', trailed with just over 10%. Announced on Friday at the Conseil Départemental in Perpiñán, the result means the department will keep the name it has held since the French Revolution.
Only 10% of eligible residents took part in the vote, 38,178 out of 384,000, exposing limited public engagement and a sharp divide between supporters of Catalan identity and those favoring continuity. Catalanist groups and tourism lobbies closely watched the process, each viewing the department’s name as a symbol of cultural and economic direction.
Hermeline Malherbe, president of the Conseil Départemental, welcomed the result, saying democracy had spoken in favor of stability. She acknowledged the strong showing for the Catalanist option, noting its deep roots in the region and promising to consider the narrow margin in future decisions. The campaign for a Catalan reference in the official name had the backing of Junts per Catalunya and was actively promoted during the Universitat d’Estiu in Prada. Local officials including Auda Vives and Nicolás García argued that the change would help preserve Catalan identity amid rising far-right sentiment.
The proposal to include 'País Catalán' as an option was rejected on legal advice because it conflicted with the French constitution. Meanwhile, Louis Aliot, vice president of Reagrupamiento Nacional and mayor of Perpiñán, came out of the process in a stronger position after campaigning to keep the historical name and resist Catalanist pressures.
The department of Pirineos Orientales includes the comarcas of Rosellón, Vallespir, Alta Cerdaña, Capcir, Fenolleda, and Conflent. Its Catalan roots date back centuries; the area was split from Spain after the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659. Catalan language and culture remain present, though their influence in daily life has waned, with French now dominant. Local organizations such as Plataforma per la Llengua have expressed gratitude for the support shown to the Catalanist option, viewing the result as evidence of enduring cultural ties.
The low turnout reflects a broader trend of political disengagement in the region, despite the issue’s symbolic weight. The close result highlights ongoing debates over identity and language, alongside regional autonomy in border areas between France and Spain. For Spain, developments in Pirineos Orientales are often seen as a barometer of cross-border cultural dynamics and the ability to recover of Catalan identity outside its official territory.
