Herri Batasuna, the radical party seen as the political wing of the Basque separatist group ETA, changed its name for the third time today, as the Spanish government prepared measures to outlaw the party.
The seven regional deputies of Batasuna, which means "unity" in the Basque language, announced they had renamed the party "Araba, Bizkaia eta Gipuzkoako Sozialista Abertzaleak", or National Socialists of Alava, Viscaya and Guipuzcoa", the three provinces of Spain's northern Basque country.
The Socialist Party said it would challenge the change in court, saying the new name too closely ressembled its own.
It is the third time the party has changed its name in the Basque parliament. It was previously known as Herri Batasuna, or People's Unity.
The move came as the Spanish government is preparing a bill that would outlaw Batasuna. The administration of Prime Minister Mr Jose Maria Aznar has already said that a change of name would not prevent the party from being dissolved once the bill is passed in parliament.
ETA, which stands for Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (Basque Homeland and Liberty), has been waging a violent campaign for an independent Basque homeland for the past three decades. The campaign has cost the lives of more than 800 people.