Thousands march at rallies across Spain to urge political talks over Catalan crisis

THOUSANDS of protesters have attended rallies in Madrid and Barcelona as calls grow for political talks on the Catalan crisis.

Rival pro-unity rallies were also held in Madrid and Palma de Mallorca.

Meanwhile, Caixa Foundation, one of Spain’s largest banks, announced on Saturday it was moving its legal headquarters from Catalunya to Palma.

In Madrid, crowds wearing white urged politicians to talk after last Sunday’s Catalan independence referendum, which sparked violent scenes and left nearly 900 people injured.

People chanted ‘Madrid is with the Catalan people’ and ‘Catalunya, you are not alone’.

Around 2,500 people attended a noisy Palma de Mallorca rally to call for Spanish unity with many people carrying Spanish flags.

There were ugly scenes when a group of marchers tore down a stall manned by pro-Catalan independence group Assemblea Sobiranista de Mallorca (ASM).

Protesters chanted ‘We are Balearic, not Catalan’ and ‘Spain united will never be defeated’.

Catalan president Carles Puigdemont is set to address the Catalan parliament on Tuesday.

Last week, Spain’s Constitutional court blocked a meeting of the Catalan government scheduled for Monday.

Puigdemont was expected to announce Catalunya was breaking from Spain after 90% of the 2.3 million who voted in the referendum opted for independence.

But amid chaotic scenes, many pro-unity voters chose to abstain in last Sunday’s vote.