Since independence almost 18 years ago, Pridnestrovie has held a total of 16 elections and referendums. The latest election, in December 2005, was won by the opposition party 'Renewal' [0] defeating ruling party 'Respublica', the leading supporters of incumbent president Igor Smirnov [0]. Following the win, a new generation of reformers were swept into power with the election of lawyer Yevgeny Shevchuk, [0] 37, as chairman and Parliamentary Speaker. [ More ] [0]

Young democracies need international support and election assistance — and the occasional critical eye to make sure that everyone plays by the rules. Arriving in Pridnestrovie, 153 registered international observers participated in the December 2005 democratic elections [1] for parliament, along with 112 accredited journalists from 46 newspapers and television stations. The election process was pronounced completely free and fair [1] by all of the organizations who sent international observers — and criticized only by those who didn't send observers.

The voting resulted in a multi-etnic parliament [1] with representation of youth, women and minorities. The big loser was the government: The president's party lost and only two out of 43 parliament members are government officials.

The head of Poland's observer-mission, [1] a member of that country's Parliament, called Pridnestrovie's most recent election by far the most open and transparent in the entire Black Sea region. Others seem to agree: In a recent report, [1] the European Union recognizes Pridnestrovie's democratic reforms and open, market-oriented economy and calls the country "independent" and "open." Not only do Pridnestrovians support their nation's freedom and independence, they also have great trust in its democratic institutions.

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RESULTS: 11/DEC/05 ELECTION Renewal and 6 allies   29 Respublica (government's party)   13 Independent   1 Total:   43 DEMOCRACY: Direct democracy in action: Tiraspol's 6th mass congress of freedom [1] Democracy aspires to Swiss model [1] Polish MP hails election as region's "most open and transparent" [1] Referendum on independence or federation with Moldova [1] [more] [1] RELATED SUBJECTS: Democracy on the Dniester [1] Human rights and minority protection [1] Government [1] Independence, sovereignty and the birth of the nation [1] Statehood [1]

ELECTIONS: Voters support independence by wide margin [1] An overwhelming majority of the population voted for independence in a referendum in 2006. International observers declared the vote free and fair. But Moldova refuses to respect the will of the people, and the West is slow in recognizing the young country's democracy. Barely twice the size of Luxembourg, PMR is already independent....[more] [1] Read more: (Some) international observers call elections free, democratic [1] Polish MP hails election as region's "most open and transparent" [1] Opposition wins in democratic election [1] Meet Igor Smirnov, Pridnestrovie's current president [1] Voting in free and democratic elections [1] Reformer Yevgeny Shevchuk, new head of Parliament [1]