Catalans fly the flag in campaign on independence

Flag-waving crowds have given color to campaigning for Sunday's regional parliamentary elections in Catalonia. Voters in the economically powerful region of northeastern Spain are being presented with two choices: parties promising efforts to make Catalonia independent, and parties that want Catalonia to keep its special identity but don't want it to break away from Spain. Polls show the independence parties headed for a slim win.

Flags decorating Catalan buildings reflect the division. Nationalists fly the Catalan flag, with its red and yellow stripes. Secessionists add a blue triangle and white star to it.

The Spanish government in Madrid says breaking away would be illegal and Catalonia's 7.5 million residents would automatically lose their Spanish nationality, and consequently their European Union citizenship, if the ballot winner decides to declare independence.

Spain Catalonia Independence Photo Gallery

In this Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015 photo, a pro independence supporter attends a rally of "Junts pel Si" or "Together for YES" in Barcelona, Spain. Catalans vote Sunday in regional parliamentary elections that the breakaway camp hopes will give them a mandate to put their region on a path toward independence _ a goal the Madrid central government says would be illegal. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Spain Catalonia Independence Photo Gallery

In this Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015 photo, members of a "castellers" or human towers, one of them wearing a backpack decorated with an "estelada" or pro independence flag, wait their turn to performing in San Jaime square in Barcelona, Spain. Catalans vote Sunday in regional parliamentary elections that the breakaway camp hopes will give them a mandate to put their region on a path toward independence _ a goal the Madrid central government says would be illegal. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Spain Catalonia Independence Photo Gallery

In this Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015 photo, an "estelada" or pro independence flag hangs on a building as people look at human towers or "Castellers" in San Jaime square in Barcelona, Spain. Catalans vote Sunday in regional parliamentary elections that the breakaway camp hopes will give them a mandate to put their region on a path toward independence _ a goal the Madrid central government says would be illegal. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Spain Catalonia Independence Photo Gallery

In this Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015 photo, people buy stuff referring to the independence of Catalonia, before attending a political meeting of the radical left party CUP in Barcelona, Spain. Catalans vote Sunday in regional parliamentary elections that the breakaway camp hopes will give them a mandate to put their region on a path toward independence _ a goal the Madrid central government says would be illegal. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Spain Catalonia Independence Photo Gallery

In this Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015 photo, pro independence supporters attend a rally of "Junts pel Si" or "Together for YES" in Barcelona, Spain. Catalans vote Sunday in regional parliamentary elections that the breakaway camp hopes will give them a mandate to put their region on a path toward independence _ a goal the Madrid central government says would be illegal. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Spain Catalonia Independence Photo Gallery

In this Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015 photo, a woman attaches an "estelada" or pro independence flag on her balcony in Barcelona, Spain. Catalans vote Sunday in regional parliamentary elections that the breakaway camp hopes will give them a mandate to put their region on a path toward independence _ a goal the Madrid central government says would be illegal. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Spain Catalonia Independence Photo Gallery

In this Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015 photo, people attend an electoral meeting of the "Ciutadans" party or Citizens in Mataro, near Barcelona, Spain. Catalans vote Sunday in regional parliamentary elections that the breakaway camp hopes will give them a mandate to put their region on a path toward independence _ a goal the Madrid central government says would be illegal. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Spain Catalonia Independence Photo Gallery

In this Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015 photo, people line up as they wait to attend a political meeting of the radical left party CUP in Barcelona, Spain. Catalans vote Sunday in regional parliamentary elections that the breakaway camp hopes will give them a mandate to put their region on a path toward independence _ a goal the Madrid central government says would be illegal. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Spain Catalonia Independence Photo Gallery

In this Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015 photo, a sign language interpreter, right, translates as the leader of the radical left party CUP David Fernandez speaks, next to a picture of Spain's King Felipe VI, during a political meeting in Barcelona, Spain. Catalans vote Sunday in regional parliamentary elections that the breakaway camp hopes will give them a mandate to put their region on a path toward independence _ a goal the Madrid central government says would be illegal. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Spain Catalonia Independence Photo Gallery

In this Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015 photo, Josep Manuel Busqueta, a candidate of the radical left party CUP, carries a picture of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, during a political meeting in Barcelona, Spain. Catalans vote Sunday in regional parliamentary elections that the breakaway camp hopes will give them a mandate to put their region on a path toward independence _ a goal the Madrid central government says would be illegal. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Spain Catalonia Independence Photo Gallery

In this Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015 photo, badges referring to the independence of Catalonia are displayed for sale at a political meeting of the radical left party CUP in Barcelona, Spain. Catalans vote Sunday in regional parliamentary elections that the breakaway camp hopes will give them a mandate to put their region on a path toward independence _ a goal the Madrid central government says would be illegal. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Spain Catalonia Independence Photo Gallery

In this Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015 photo, members of the radical left party CUP rise their hands during a political meeting in Barcelona, Spain. Catalans vote Sunday in regional parliamentary elections that the breakaway camp hopes will give them a mandate to put their region on a path toward independence _ a goal the Madrid central government says would be illegal. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Spain Catalonia Independence Photo Gallery

In this Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015 photo, a pro independence supporter attends a rally of "Junts pel Si" or "Together for YES" in Barcelona, Spain. Catalans vote Sunday in regional parliamentary elections that the breakaway camp hopes will give them a mandate to put their region on a path toward independence _ a goal the Madrid central government says would be illegal. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

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Text from the AP news story, AP PHOTOS: Catalans fly the flag in campaign on independence. 

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