Can you be a benevolent dictator?

[FoliFF]

I just played first hour of the game (still turn 1 turn) and from looks of things I'm heading towards a reformist path. Now I rather do a benevolent dictator run if possible. Now I don't know if the game will allow it or not but it will be something interesting and experience as a first playthrough.

Granted I am expect it will be really hard to do so since I don't want accept or offer brides.

[Daan-B]

well when the reform dialogue is held you can insist on expanding presidential powers or alternatively you can shut down the reform commission and declare a national emergency through hawker. it's possible to use those powers for good, but you'll need the conservative and reformist wing and probably the NFP to. So you definetly won't be rid of soll's legacy. as for not taking bribes, you'll have to be carefull to not ruin your relationship with tusk prematurely and without koronti you can expect a lot of bad press if you screw up to much.

somewhat possible i suppose but Nia will be pissed so you'll have to work with the old guard if you want to change the constitution. If you don't, then you won't be much of a dictator. the interests to which you will have to cater make it difficult to be "good" or "benevolent".

[Super Cosmic Space Magnet]

Reformists tend to go towards Democracy rather than Autocracy.

If you want to be a Benevolent Dictator you'll want to work with the NFP by choosing to strengthen executive powers when prompted at the start of the game which direction you want to take the country in. Conservatives within the NSP will love you as long as you don't attack Soll personally - especially since you can enact Campaign Finance and then raise the electoral threshold to 15%. Normally the NFP will hate you for this, but if you offer an alliance with them he'll still be on board. Don't nationalise or privatise things. You can also buy the reformist wing of NFP by either bribing 2 wealth or promising VP to the leader of that wing.

Make sure you tell your Wife she can speak at the Benfi festival - that way you can betray her to Gloria as a concession which will give you more brownie points than if you just chose to not let her speak. At the festival itself, make sure you tell your wife to sit down and shut up. She'll hate you but you can fix that relationship later.

Once you've done this, you'll have the whole NSP and NFP in your hands. Accept the bribe from the slug and choose Underhall Rail Construction. Be nice to the Oligarchs. With all that support you'll get about 180 votes in the Assembly.

Once your reforms are through both chambers (you'll need to bribe the Old Guard to do it, so make sure you chose a wealthy background and invested all 3 wealth in Arcasian Stocks (sorry Sergei!)) congratulations! You are now a dictator! As long as you don't harass Soll with the anti-corruption beauraux or state police, you should be safe from a coup and with your amazing constitution you can't be impeached either - so take all the bribes you want! Now you can start setting decrees and passing bills that improve peoples' lives without fear of impeachment.