Campaigning has come to an end in the Spanish region of Catalonia ahead of Sunday’s decisive elections.

Many consider the poll a proxy vote on breaking away from Spain.

The pro-independence coalition, which includes the Catalan president, Artur Mas, held a final rally in Barcelona with tens of thousands turning out.

“We will meet again at the ballots. And these ones are the ones which will lead us to economic prosperity, social justice, solidarity, equal opportunities for all,” said Artur Mas, President of the autonomous region of Catalonia. “They will lead us to hope, to a common project, to dignity, and to freedom. Hurray Catalonia!”

If the bloc wins Sunday’s vote, they have said they will start a process that will lead to a unilateral declaration of separation from Spain in 2017.

Meanwhile, the Spanish Prime Minister was joined by his party’s candidate in the Catalan elections and former French President Nicolas Sarkozy at a final rally in Barcelona in a last ditch attemp