While based in European countries far from the homeland these parties proclaim themselves as leaders of struggle against tyranny.

Mexico's dominant party last week proclaimed 39-year-old Carlos Salinas de Gortari as its presidential candidate.

The party has proclaimed itself christian democratic and in some cases conservative.

And to do so, both parties must proclaim a lifetime of love, because both states make the commitment, on both sides.

On Sept. 10, the governing party proclaimed an end to its monopoly of power and called for elections.

It also helped boost the Communist Party into the public consciousness as "a recognized power, a major American political factor," the party proudly proclaimed.

The party proclaimed its solidarity with the Soviet Union, but the Soviets paid little interest in the Dutch splinter group.

The principal idea that the party proclaimed was to generate an environment of calm during the return of democracy.

The party proclaimed itself to be a strong supporter of the traditional family.

Yet where the governing party has proclaimed democracy for 62 years without sharing real power, critics say, such actions do not necessarily change the calculus of public skepticism.