Also a longtime politician and trade negotiator, Mr. Moore has said he is a true believer in trade as a force for prosperity.

But there seems to be no such unity this time, and longtime politicians say the project has political and economic momentum.

Still, the swearing in of Mr. Sayeed, 66, a longtime politician and a former government minister, was a milestone for the state.

Mr. Kim, 63 years old, a longtime politician, also declined to comment.

Hailing from Columbiana, Wetzel was a longtime politician, notably as a long term state representative.

He is a longtime municipal politician, having served as mayor of Saint-Robert since 1989.

The demonstration was the largest in at least two decades, and many longtime politicians here said they had never seen so many protesters descend on the Capitol.

Her mother Joanna was a longtime politician there and serves as Attorney General.

He looked uncomfortable for someone who, as a longtime politician, was surely used to public speaking over subspace.

"It's no wonder the Japanese financial institutions are criticized," the longtime Japanese politician said.