The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word STATESMEN
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More clues leading to the result STATESMEN
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "political leaders" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case political leaders = statesmen.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does STATESMEN mean?
STATESMEN noun- A man who is a leader in national or international affairs.
- A male political leader who promotes the public good or who is recognized for probity, leadership, or the qualities necessary to govern a state.
- In the dialect of the English Lake District and nearby, a man who lives on a landed estate; a small landholder.