<|im_start|>system
You are a helpful AI assistant.<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>user
How often do people hands their democratic government to some authoritarian dictator? Give at least an example<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>assistant
It is unfortunately not uncommon for people to hand power to authoritarian leaders, even in democracies. Some examples include:

- Adolf Hitler in Germany, who was appointed Chancellor in 1933 after democratic elections. He soon established a dictatorship and totalitarian control.

- Benito Mussolini in Italy, who was appointed Prime Minister in 1922 after the March on Rome. He established a Fascist dictatorship and ruled as "Il Duce" for over two decades.

- Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, who was elected President in 1998. He gradually concentrated power and undermined democratic institutions, moving the country toward authoritarian rule.

- Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey, who was elected Prime Minister in 2003 and President in 2014. He has increasingly authoritarian powers and undermined the secular democratic system in Turkey.

There are several reasons this can happen: nationalism, discontent with the status quo, promises of stability or national glory, charismatic leadership, and gradual erosion of democracy.<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>user
What measures can be taken to prevent democratically elected officials from using their power to undermine the democratic system? How can a democracy or representative republic be made more robust against malicious politicians?<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>assistant
A couple of options to prevent these elected officials from abusing their power to undermine democracy are:

1. Separation of powers: This involves dividing the government into separate branches - legislative, executive, and judicial. Each branch has a distinct set of powers and responsibilities, and no one branch should be able to dominate the others. This system of checks and balances helps prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful and undermining democracy.
2. Constitutional constraints: A constitution can establish clear limits on the powers of elected officials and provide mechanisms for holding them accountable. These may include term limits, impeachment, and the requirement to uphold fundamental democratic principles.
3. Free and independent media: A free and independent media can serve as a watchdog, holding elected officials accountable and exposing any attempts to undermine the democratic system.
4. Strong civil society: A strong civil society, including non-governmental organizations, citizen groups, and independent courts, can help ensure that the government remains transparent and accountable.
5. Electoral reforms: Reforming the electoral system to make it more transparent, inclusive, and fair can help prevent the abuse of power by elected officials. This may include measures such as campaign finance reform, voter ID laws, and the use of independent electoral commissions.
6. Education and civic engagement: Education and civic engagement can help citizens understand the importance of democracy and their role in protecting it. Encouraging civic participation and engagement can also help prevent the rise of authoritarianism. 

By putting these steps into place and consistently trying to develop and enhance democratic institutions, a democracy or representative republic can be made more resilient against malicious politicians.<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>user
If there was a military coup, it doesn't sound like Myanmar elected their authoritarian regime. I'm looking for examples where democratic countries elected a dictator who then refused to leave power. Like Belarus with Lukashenko.<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>assistant
Sure. I'll list some recent democratically elected dictators in order. However, it may be harder to determine if more recent dictators are actually a dictators or if only their opposition is claiming that.
* "Elected" 2014-Present: President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi -- Egypt
  * Sisi was appointed Minister of Defense by President Mohomad Morsi in 2012, and was then involved in the military coup that removed Morsi from office in 2013, before running for president in 2014.
* Elected 2010-present: Prime Minister Viktor Orbán -- Hungary
  * In 2006, an audio recording surfaced from a Hungarian socilaist party meeting where the then Prime Minister, Ferenc Gyurcsány, gave an obscenity-laden speech, which led to mass protests. Orbán announced plans to stage demonstrations across Hungary on the anniversy of the Soviet suppression of the 1956 revolution. But the revolutions petered out. In 2010, he won the election, and afterwards there were complaints of "free but not fair" elections due to gerrymandering and "other tweaks". According to Andre Marantaz, he slowly passed laws, amended the constitution, and wrote a new one allowing him to do whatever he wanted. He also "debilitated, delegitimatized, [and] hollowed out" courts and universities, as well as took over public media.
* Elected 2007-present: President Daniel Ortega -- Nicaragua
  * He was the leader of Nicaragua from 1979 to 1990, then failed in the 1996 and 2001 elections, but won the 2006 election. He then made alliances with other socialists like Hugo Chávez. His second administration became increasingly anti-democratic, and multiple organizations reported violent oppresion against protesters in the 2018-2022 Nicaraguan protests, after which there were waves of emmigration to Costa Rica, with over 30,000 Nicaraguans filing for asylum. He als ordered the closing of several NGOs, universities, and newspapers, and jailed many potential opponents in the 2021 election.<|im_end|>