Crossword Genius

European politician, sovereign or ruler (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

emperor

'ruler' is the definition.
(emperor is a kind of ruler)

'european politician sovereign or' is the wordplay.
'european' becomes 'E' (abbreviation e.g. EU).
'politician' becomes 'MP' (Member of Parliament).
'sovereign' becomes 'er' (Abbreviation for Elizabeth Regina).
'e'+'mp'+'er'+'or'='EMPEROR'

(Other definitions for emperor that I've seen before include "Say, Nero" , "Sovereign and richly-colored butterfly" , "Kaiser" , "Supreme ruler" , "Character in 24 ac" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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