Well....
proper education...and I don't just mean ABC's ..but also of social and ethical values...essentially an education of how to be a decent citizen....is paramount...
and not just for politicians.... but for the population...the entire society...
A properly educated populace benefits everyone.
Ignorant populations end up causing untold damage...across generations ...since they imprint their ignorance on the next generation...

Other than the last two politicians we have had in Canada...(trudeau ..a school teacher...and harper..a very established economist...) ...
every prime minister we have ever had since the beginning of Confederation...were practicing lawyers....
They all deftly navigated the country...
we haven't had the issues and problems associated with countries who elect by pure populist vote.
Voting on the smile of the candidate ...so to speak...
rather than their actual competence to do the job...
In Canada the people vote the party they wish in...
but on top of that...
the parties themselves ...
internally they debate the issue of support or denial of support for those seeking leadership of the party...
safeguarding the good standing of the party ...of the office of the prime minister...and of the public...
so we don't have lunatics, madmen or buffoons running us all...
As well...if it is a minority reigning government ...then that means the other parties hold as much...(and usually across all the opposition parties) ...if not more votes in the House of Commons...then the reigning government must "work" with the coalition of opposition parties...else face the possibility of a snap election...
So we have pretty decent checks and balances to safeguard the people...
Doesn't mean we don't and haven't had our own scandals ..
but not to the degree other countries do..
Call me biased...
and I suppose I am..
but I think that Canada as example is a relatively good one ... a good example of purposefully electing educated people who can run the country competently...