Others say the activists are independent thinkers who will oppose any politician they see as supporting big government and big spending.

VOA: special.2010.03.06

In seventeen ninety-seven, the Independent Chronicle newspaper used the word to describe a politician the paper supported.

VOA: special.2010.08.08

Margaret Dongo, an independent politician, has launched a party, the Zimbabwe Union of Democrats.

ECONOMIST: Apparitions in Zimbabwe

The new 35-member cabinet will be headed by independent politician Mohammed Basindwa, Yemen's state news agency Saba said.

BBC: Yemen: New unity government created

For all his fine words, Mr Medvedev is not an independent politician.

ECONOMIST: Russian modernisation