Democrat finally able to recognise tyrant (6)
I believe the answer is:
despot
'tyrant' is the definition.
(I know that tyrant can be written as despot)
'democrat finally able to recognise' is the wordplay.
'democrat' becomes 'd'.
'finally' suggests the final letters.
'to recognise' becomes 'spot' (I've seen this in another clue).
The last letter of 'able' is 'e'.
'd'+'e'+'spot'='DESPOT'
(Other definitions for despot that I've seen before include "Tyrannical dictator" , "Posted by tyrant" , "has first of shocks in store" , "nasty ruler?" , "Autocrat" .)