Polling stations are ready to open their doors to over 5.5 million people across the Spanish region of Catalonia on Sunday in an election that is considered by pro-separatist parties as a proxy-vote on independence. <br /><br /> The campaign has been split down the middle between parties in favour or against secession from Spain. <br /><br /> Polls in recent weeks have given Catalan separatist parties a slight majority, which they claim gives them the authority to begin an 18-month process towards a full declaration of independence.<br /><br /> Madrid has warned it will block any attempt to break away from Spain in the country’s constitutional court. <br /><br /> On the streets of Barcelona opinion is evenly split.<br /><br /> One middle man in Barcelona said he was “pleased because the elections represent a genetic debt” to his family. “It’s a shame they’re not all here to see what is happening. I’m more pleased for my parents and grandparents,” he adds.<br /><br /> “I’m not in favour of secession,” explained one Barcelona resident. “I don’t w
