Crossword Genius

Old Peruvian elected czar, oddly (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

inca

'old peruvian' is the definition.
(the Inca were a historical people of Peru)

'elected czar oddly' is the wordplay.
'elected' becomes 'in' (in government).
'oddly' means one should take alternating letters (letters in the odd-numbered positions are used).
The alternate letters of 'czar' are 'ca'.
'in'+'ca'='INCA'

(Other definitions for inca that I've seen before include "Aged Peruvian" , "Member of old South American Indian people of Peru" , "Old Peruvian people" , "Ruler of an old empire centred on Cuzco" , "Ancient South American" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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