@Twilestia
 
Yes, they definitely could have made a better name than that. The name ‘Lunar Republic’ only really makes sense if they were literally founding a republic on the moon. I think they just call it a ‘republic’ because they think the word gives them the moral high ground in their war against an “evil empire.”
 
Then again, I don’t think I’ve ever seen any actual depictions of how the ‘New Lunar Republic’ government actually works, so it’s possible there could be some degree of decentralization or constitutionalism (or perhaps it was intended to work that way). The whole thing is really just an excuse to draw armies of ponies in jet fighters and hovertanks supposedly fighting for freedom, so it was never supposed to make sense to begin with. Their name, logo, futuristic weaponry, and war against an ‘Empire’ are clearly just copying the rebels from Star Wars under Princess Leia, even though the in-universe reason why the Star Wars rebels were being led by a princess doesn’t really work here.

@Twiface  
Eh, those can be “republics”, the whole thing of that is more that no monarch (like a princess) is the ruler with ultimate power. Now if its a oligarchy or a democracy thats a distinction in between them.
 
I more just that a better name could have been picked then “republic” since in all/most depicitons Luna/NMM still rules with an iron fist as a monarch.

@Twilestia  
The word ‘Republic’ doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a democracy. Its original meaning simply meant any country that wasn’t a monarchy, which included Venice’s oligarchy or Oliver Cromwell’s military dictatorship.  
I never understood why it was ever called a ‘republic’ to begin with if it’s led by a Princess. Maybe if she renounced her title, but I’ve never seen any depictions of the NLR where that was the case.

Best horzez evar.

Ah the good old “New Lunar Republic”, never understood why its not just called the “The Ponies Republic of Luna” or some other name in line with other authoritarian non republic nations.