The question assumes governments deliberately allow criminals to run for office, but the reality is more complex and often contradictory. In many places, legal frameworks either do not explicitly bar candidates with criminal records or have loopholes that allow them to stand for election. Sometimes, this reflects a fragile rule of law where political power overshadows legal enforcement, or where criminal figures have significant social influence that political parties exploit. Moreover, democratic principles like the right to run for office and voter choice can clash with the desire to exclude “undesirable” candidates. So rather than a conscious decision to empower criminals, it’s often a symptom of weak institutions, political opportunism, and competing values within governance. The deeper issue is whether such allowances erode public trust and governance legitimacy, something governments should critically assess rather than simply permit.