It's part of the 'militant strongman turned rebel' meme in imitation of warlord rulers of Roman times and earlier.

Monarchs wore military dress in public. Napolean continued to wear military dress. Only when the idea of rule by civilian vote was the casual or business attire considered. The togas of Greece and Rome for example.

This rulers vs ruled issue is what politics are all about. Red and Blue, me and you.

Chiang Kai-shek dressed in military garb, carried over by eastern european dictators and then Castro carried it on.

It's a pining for absolute rule in fear.

First time a tragedy, second time a farce.