In former communist countries, the ~ were the people the communist party approved of and appointed to positions of authority.
N-SING: the N
In former communist countries, the ~ were the people the communist party approved of and appointed to positions of authority.
N-SING: the N
Collins COBUILD. Толковый словарь английского языка для изучающих язык Коллинз COBUILD (международная база данных языков Бирмингемского университета) . 2012