[spery]

Emergency is that if current regime loses the elections, they will all have to be persecuted for various law violations.

It's a fight for survival.

[ashtonkem]

That’s the real reason, yes. But usually such moves are paired with a Reichstag fire for a cover story.

[fabatka]

I guess nowadays it is much easier to sow FUD thanks to modern technology if there is a will. No need for a main enemy, many smaller crises will do to supply a constant "state of alarm".