Thousands Mark Catalonia Day as Regional Parties Become Spain's Kingmakers

Thousands of Catalan independence supporters took to the streets of central Barcelona on Monday in a march to mark the Spanish region's National Day, just as separatist parties take center stage in efforts to form a national government.

Marchers carried red, yellow and blue "Estelada" flags and chanted slogans demanding Catalonia's secession from Spain, packing into the Placa d'Espanya square to hear speeches from leaders of the pro-independence movement.

However, Reuters journalists said turnout at this year's La Diada events, as the National Day is known, was relatively low compared to past ones, Reuters reported.

Police pegged it at 115,000 people, while the march's organizers said 800,000 took part. Attendance has waned in recent years as support for breaking away from Spain has decreased.