Thousands rallied in Madrid and Barcelona on Saturday in a last-ditch call for Spanish and Catalan leaders to stave off a national crisis amid Catalonia's threat to secede.

The rallies in the Spanish capital and the Catalan city were held with the slogan "Shall We Talk?" in an effort to push lawmakers in both cities to end months of silence and start negotiating. Attendees respected the organisers' call to not bring the Spanish or Catalan flag.

Protestors packed Barcelona's Sant Jaume Square where the Catalan government has its presidential palace, shouting "We want to talk!"

"We have to find a new way forward," said Miquel Iceta, leader of Spain's Socialist party in Catalonia. "It's the moment to listen to the people who are asking for the problem to be solved through an agreement, and without precipitated and unilateral decisions."
How prepared is Catalonia for statehood?

NATIONHOOD-Catalonia, one of 17 autonomous regions under Spain's political system, has its own government - Generalitat - presidency, and parliament

POLICY POWER-Catalonia delivers public services in areas such as health and education and has own police force - Mossos d'Esquadra. Madrid retains powers over foreign, defence, immigration and broad economic policy.

EU MEMBERSHIP-Two-thirds of Catalonia's foreign exports go to EU. Catalonia would need to reapply for membership if it seceded and would require agreement of all EU members, including Spain.

TAX AUTONOMY-Catalonia has just 16% of Spain's population but 19% of its GDP, and is unhappy about redistribution of tax revenues. Each year, Barcelona pays about ?10B more in taxes to Madrid than it gets back, or around 5% of regional economic output*

(KT GRAPHIC . *2014 figures from Spanish Treasury; Source: Graphic News)

Source: Khaleej Times