Tomorrow's regional election pits leaders of the wealthy northeastern region's separatist movement against candidates who want to stay part of a unified Spain.
Voters are highly mobilised and a record turnout is expected, but with pro- and anti-independence candidates neck-and-neck in opinion polls neither side is likely to win a clear majority.
The election is being closely watched across a European Union still reeling from Britain's shock decision to leave and wary about any breakup of the eurozone's fourth largest economy.
"This is not a normal election," axed Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont told supporters yesterday in a final, virtual rally via videolink from self-imposed exile in Belgium.
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But with their camp in disarray, secessionists would likely put their independence drive on hold should they win tomorrow's vote.
"It won't want to see that suspended again," he added.
The deposed government's failed independence declaration saw more than 3,000 companies relocating from the region, and no country recognising the new "republic".
While opinion polls suggest a narrow lead for the leftist, pro-independence ERC, voters could ultimately hand victory to centrist party Ciudadanos, whose charismatic candidate Ines Arrimadas has campaigned on a fierce anti- nationalist ticket.
"We are very close to making our dream come true," Arrimadas told supporters at a rally yesterday in a working- class district of Barcelona.
"We are going to wake up from this nightmare on Thursday," she added.
Miguel Carillo, 62, a longtime supporter of Rajoy's ruling conservative Popular Party (PP), said he would vote strategically this time for Ciudadanos.
"We don't want a republic," he said. "We want to be united with Spain."
Now the separatists are not just fighting pro-unity parties for votes -- but each other.
Allowed just 10 phone calls a week from jail, Junqueras has led an unorthodox campaign, giving interviews to Catalan radio and sending articles, letters and even poems to supporters.
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