Well 1 of the 1st targets of an autocratic wannabe is to restrict/go after the press...
I'm sure throwing basic ethics out the window usually can be found as well
Maybe toss in a bit of nepotism, have your fellow rich inner circle profit from "the perks", maybe toss your name on a building or 2...
When the 3-story portraits start going up, maybe then the public will get it...
Most - it doesn't have to get that far to see that there's a snake in the woodpile