Spanish citizens in the region of Catalonia are going to the polls Sunday in what are officially local elections, but are described as a’ quasi-referendum’ on whether the area will demand independence from the Spanish government. It is crucial vote as the outcome could affect other regions in Spain (the Basques) and even other EU member states feeling disillusioned with austerity policies impacting mainly on poorer regional areas. If the separatist parties win the control of the Catalonian parliament, as most opinion polls indicate, they have pledged to push for a cessation from Spain within the next 18 months. The two main secessionist  parties ‘Junts Pel Si’ (Together for Yes) and they leftist party CPU are in the lead and according to polls will be able to gain a majority of the 135 seats contested. Pollsters believe that a high turnout of voters could tip the vote in favour of those against the pro-separatists, something so far that seems to be the case as more than 63% of this eligible to vote had cast their ballots.