Socialists candidate for Basque regional president Patxi Lopez and Spanish PM Rodriguez Zapatero greet supporters in Bilbao. Socialists candidate for Basque regional president Patxi Lopez (L) and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero wave to supporters during an electoral meeting in Bilbao April 14, 2005. Basque proposals to wrest virtual independence from Spain dominate a regional election on Sunday as the Socialist government in Madrid fights to stop a plan some fear could redraw the map of Spain.