But elections in 1997 saw a resurgent opposition break what was in effect a one-party system with a democratic facade.
The country had only a "democratic façade."
The MDB used these campaigns to gain the attention of the global media, and denounce the "democratic" facade of the Brazilian dictatorship.
Despite the constitutional and democratic façade, Suharto made sure that the MPR was also subservient to him.
A spokesman for an independent human rights organization says that "there's a democratic facade now, nothing more.
Mr. Mandela's followers are justifiably suspicious of subterfuges meant to divide blacks and entrench white privileges under a democratic facade.
Its conspirational leaders within the diaspora did not want to openly enter Ukrainian politics, and attempted to create imbue this party with a democratic, moderate facade.
The work we carry out is an obstacle to the democratic facade," he said, "and we say that they will never silence us.
It's easy to see that, despite the democratic facade, the system is rigged to ensure Nurse Ratched's, and the Combine's, control.
The coup attempt revealed deep fractures behind Venezuela's democratic facade.