system
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human
[Star Wars] Was Palpatine ever considering ruling the galaxy through the Separatists, or was a Republic victory always the plan?

It seems like it could work out with him on top and the Jedi wiped out either way.
gpt
I'd imagine the Republic victory was his greatly preferred outcome. The Republic was the established government while the Separatists were on paper at least aiming to simply secede. 


Palpatine was also the open leader of the Republic while Sidious was the shadow leader of the Separatists. 


Overall he would have a much easier time transforming the Republic in the Empire than the Separatists, like if the separatists won then there would be more more resistance to the kind of centralised state Palpatine seems to create.


But the thing about the Clone Wars is of course that Palpatine won either way, the way was meaningless overall and served to only increase his power. But things would be much more convenient for him if the Republic won and so he would likely only accept a separatist victory if he had little choice.