User blog comment:ChiroSamai94/Meeting Doflamingo/@comment-174.29.252.104-20100901035316

I think his powers are absurdly symbolic of his actual position in the World Government. He always acts as if he is pulling the strings, despite to whom he speaks to. I suspect that this was hinted at when he was shown about to execute Gecko Moria, due to what he said concerning orders from higher up. Either he a subordinate to someone of higher authority than the Elders, or perhaps he himself is, though that is rather unlikely.

Regardless, it is likely he will be one of the last and/or most important opponents in the series to be defeated.