present simple or perfect?

[Mher]

Have I used the tenses correct: "Dear participants, it has already been 25 years since I occupy high state positions?"

 

[Matthew Wai]

The simple past should be used after 'since'.

Not a teacher.

 

[Mher]

But the speaker continues to occupy high posts.
Maybe I need replace since with that?

Or "I have been occupying high state positions for 25 years already."

 

[SoothingDave]

But the speaker continues to occupy high posts.
Maybe I need replace since with that?

Then you can not use since like that.

"It has been 25 years since I first began occupying high state positions."

"I have been occupying high state positions for 25 years now."

"It has been 25 years since I first began to occupy high state positions."

 

[Tdol]

How about using hold instead of occupy?

 

[Mher]

How about using hold instead of occupy?

It is up to you my teacher.;-)

 

[Tdol]

Occupying sounds more like squatting, while holding office sounds more like a true politician to me.

 

[Mher]

Occupying sounds more like squatting, while holding office sounds more like a true politician to me.

What do you mean by "squatting"? Is it a synonym for "usurping"?
By the way, it is a nice idea to use unknown words from time to time.

 

[Tdol]

Sort of- they're in office, but not really up to the job, so they're occupying the position that should be held by someone better.