Speak for the people (5)
I believe the answer is:
state
This clue is a double definition.
'speak' is the first definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'the people' is the second definition.
(as in the people of a nation)
'for' is the link.
(Other definitions for state that I've seen before include "Say; condition" , "Condition of country." , "Declare - political unit" , "Say; country" , "Specify condition" .)