Fixers as Political Sacrifices

Political parties routinely protect visible leaders by pushing responsibility for scandals onto unelected aides and fixers. That tactic preserves short‑term stability but corrodes internal accountability, concentrates opaque power in trusted operatives, and leaves voters without a clear line of responsibility. — Recognizing this pattern explains why scandals rarely topple leaders, how institutional accountability is hollowed out, and why parties' reputations can suffer even when leaders survive.