Most often, the capture of the referees is done by quietly firing civil servants and other nonpartisan officials and replacing them with loyalists.
In "How Democracies Die," author Steven Levitsky discusses the troubling trend of undermining democratic institutions through the strategic removal of impartial officials. He highlights that this is often accomplished by quietly dismissing civil servants and other neutral figures, substituting them with political loyalists who support the ruling party or leader.
This tactic erodes the integrity of democratic governance, as it compromises the independence and professionalism of public institutions. By replacing nonpartisan officials with loyalists, the ruling power consolidates control, which poses a significant threat to the foundation of democracy itself.
