The federalist notions of Pasqual Maragall, leader of its local Socialists, would mean big constitutional changes.

ECONOMIST: A survey of Spain

Bogus, and look how much more Madrid province gets, retorts Pasqual Maragall, whose Socialists got more votes, but fewer seats, in the 1999 regional elections.

ECONOMIST: A survey of Spain

Catalan nationalists are drawing up a new one which, despite Mr Carod-Rovira's populist harangues, will, according to Catalonia's Socialist premier, Pasqual Maragall, remain within the bounds set by the 1978 text.

ECONOMIST: Spain and the Basques

For the first time for many years, the Socialist Party, under Pasqual Maragall, a former mayor of Barcelona, won more votes than Catalonia's conservative nationalists under their long-serving leader, Jordi Pujol, who nonetheless (because of the voting system) won more seats in the assembly.

ECONOMIST: Spain