quasi-dictator

plural quasi-dictators

1. A leader that rules dictatorially but still allows some freedoms.

   These practices, mixed with an intentional weakening of political opposition, allowed Mubarak to rule as a quasi-dictator (Bery, 2011).

   (Can we date this quote?), “Social Media as Precursor to Arab Revolt”, in University of Tennessee, archived from the original on 24 Jan 2021, page 2

   1 more example

   In the Washington Post on July 22 (under the headline "Latin America's New Authoritarians"), reporter Juan Forero explains that today's quasi-dictators are clever enough to rule in what are nominally democracies

   2012 August 2, Peter Hart, “The Threat (Again) of Left-Wing Latin American Democracy”, in Common Dreams, archived from the original on 12 Nov 2020