Puppet state

A puppet leader is a political figure who is installed or heavily influenced by a foreign power or an occupying force, rather than being freely elected or chosen by the local population. The term implies that the leader is not acting independently but is instead controlled or manipulated by an external entity, much like a puppet is controlled by a puppeteer. In Hebrew, this concept can be translated as מנהיג בובה (manhig buva). In other languages, the term can be translated as títere político in Spanish, marionette in French, and Marionette in German. Puppet leaders often emerge in contexts of colonialism, military occupation, or significant foreign intervention, where the external power seeks to maintain control over a region while providing a facade of local governance. The legitimacy and authority of puppet leaders are typically questioned, as their rule is perceived as a tool of foreign interests rather than a genuine representation of the local population's will.