Catalonia is holding regional elections today, in which the Spanish government hopes to abolish the pro-independence parties that control the Catalan parliament and end their struggle for independence.
The final polls, however, show that a result in favor of Catalonia's independence remains possible.
Spanish Prime Minister Marino Rajoy called elections in October following Catalonia's illegal independence referendum.
The polls will open at 8 local time (9 hours Cyprus) will close at 19:00 (20:00 Cyprus time). A record of participation is expected to be achieved.
Catalonia's struggle for independence divided Spain and brought it to its worst political turmoil since the collapse of fascist rule and the return of democracy in the 70s.
The accused President of Catalonia Carles Punjdemon has exiled himself to Brussels to escape arrest and his former deputy and now rival candidate, Oriol Hunkeras is in prison.