consolidate

But his domestic opponents have never been able to finish him off and he has shamelessly exploited every new crisis, many of them self-inflicted, to avoid electoral defeat and further consolidate his power.

It also highlights a shift, as Greenland's leaders consolidate relations with Denmark and the EU, "because we have to have allies in these problems," says Kaj Kleist, alluding to US pressure.

Observers have seen these methods as the way to perpetuate a soft-authoritarianism, enacted smoothly without the violence that authoritarian governments have traditionally employed to quell opposition and consolidate power.

Having saved a break point then secured an impressive break to love with a crowd-pleasing volley, Boulter battled to consolidate with an important hold, saving another break point along the way.

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, a Sugar Land Republican, embarked instead on a bold course of action to consolidate GOP power in the state.