How Do Dictators Hijack Parliament?

In democratic systems, a parliament serves as a critical check on executive power, representing the people's will and ensuring that the government remains accountable. However, dictators, who thrive on unchallenged authority, often view parliaments as obstacles to their rule. To consolidate power and suppress opposition, they hijack these legislative bodies, turning them into tools that serve their regime rather than the public interest. By employing a variety of tactics, dictators can neutralise the independence of the parliament, ensuring it becomes a mere extension of their authoritarian rule.

Rigging elections: One of the most common methods dictators use to control parliaments is through rigging elections. Although elections might still be held to maintain a facade of democracy, the process is often heavily manipulated to ensure that loyalists or members of the dictator’s party dominate the parliament. Electoral rigging can include ballot stuffing, voter suppression, and manipulating electoral boundaries, all designed to secure a parliamentary majority that will rubber-stamp the dictator’s policies without question.

Intimidation and repression: Intimidation and repression are also key tools in a dictator's arsenal. By using coercion, threats, or outright violence, the regime can discourage opposition candidates from running for office or sway election outcomes in their favour. Opponents and their supporters may face harassment, imprisonment, or worse, creating a climate of fear that undermines the electoral process and ensures the regime's dominance in parliament.

Purging opposition: To further reduce opposition, dictators may purge opposition candidates from the political landscape. This can be done by disqualifying or removing them from running for office, often under the pretext of legal or bureaucratic reasons. By limiting the choices available to voters, dictators effectively eliminate competition and consolidate their grip on the legislature.

Creating one-party dominance: Another tactic is creating one-party dominance by suppressing or banning opposition parties. When only one party is allowed to operate freely, voters are left with no real alternatives, ensuring that the dictator’s party controls the parliament. This domination stifles political pluralism and prevents any genuine debate or opposition within the legislative body.

Appointing loyalists: Dictators also appoint loyalists to key positions within the parliament. By placing trusted supporters in important parliamentary roles, the dictator ensures that legislative processes are controlled by individuals who will faithfully execute the regime’s agenda. These loyalists may occupy positions such as committee chairs or influential leadership posts, where they can steer legislative outcomes in favour of the dictator.

Controlling parliamentary leadership: Controlling parliamentary leadership is another crucial step in hijacking the parliament. By exerting influence over the selection of parliamentary leaders, such as the speaker or other officials, dictators can guarantee that these figures are loyal to the regime. This control allows the dictator to manage the legislative agenda and suppress any dissenting voices within the parliament.

Bypassing parliament with decrees: In some cases, dictators may simply bypass the parliament altogether by issuing decrees or executive orders. This approach allows the dictator to implement policies without going through the legislative process, effectively sidelining the parliament’s role. Such decrees are often justified under the guise of urgency or national security, but their real purpose is to circumvent any potential opposition within the legislative body.

Weakening legislative oversight: To further weaken the parliament’s ability to hold the government accountable, dictators may curtail legislative oversight functions. By restricting the parliament's powers to investigate or oversee the executive branch, the regime eliminates another key check on its authority. Without effective oversight, the government can act with impunity, free from scrutiny or challenge by the legislative body.

Creating a rubber-stamp parliament: When a dictator has successfully hijacked a parliament, it often becomes a rubber-stamp body, merely approving the regime’s proposals without substantive debate or scrutiny. This erosion of parliamentary independence undermines the very essence of democracy, as laws and policies are enacted without genuine representation or consideration of the public’s interests.

Amending the constitution: To entrench their power further, dictators may resort to amending the constitution. By altering the constitution, they can expand executive powers, reduce the authority of the parliament, or even remove term limits, allowing them to remain in office indefinitely. These constitutional changes often occur under the guise of legal reform or national stability, but their true purpose is to cement the dictator's control over the government.

Coercing or influencing votes: Dictators also use coercion or influence to sway parliamentary votes. Lawmakers may be pressured, bribed, or blackmailed into voting in favour of the regime’s proposals. In such environments, legislators are often more concerned with their personal safety or financial gain than with representing their constituents’ interests.

Using emergency powers: In times of crisis, real or manufactured, dictators might exploit the situation to use emergency powers. By declaring a state of emergency, the dictator can bypass the normal legislative process and grant extraordinary powers to the executive branch. This further marginalises the parliament and consolidates the dictator’s control over the government.

Hijacking the parliament through these methods enables dictators to create the illusion of democratic legitimacy while effectively neutralising any meaningful opposition or checks on their power. This systematic erosion of democratic principles stifles political pluralism and concentrates power in the hands of the dictator and their loyalists, paving the way for an entrenched authoritarian regime. As parliaments lose its ability to function independently, the dictator's grip on power tightens, and the prospects for democratic governance diminish.