Philippines’ Marcos set for supermajority as ‘Uniteam’ dominates Congress
By Neil Jerome Morales
MANILA (Reuters) – Philippines president-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr is all however sure to command a supermajority in Congress, a proclamation of winners confirmed on Wednesday, boosting probabilities of advancing his legislative agenda when he takes energy subsequent month.
All however two of the 12 candidates declared winners of Senate seats by the election fee have been allied with Marcos’s “Uniteam” political juggernaut, including to a brand new decrease home revealed final week that was dominated by events that sided with the presumptive president.
Marcos, the son and namesake of the disgraced dictator pushed from energy in a 1986 rebellion, has but to disclose a coverage agenda, however many analysts count on him to proceed from the place outgoing chief Rodrigo Duterte left off.
“It will likely be straightforward for the incoming administration, given the assist they’ve from the native authorities and political households, to get their means by way of legislative agenda,” mentioned Ranjit Rye, a political science professor on the College of the Philippines.
Marcos, 64, who gained final week’s election in a landslide, inherits an financial system on a stronger footing however might want to elevate income for infrastructure and addressing large money owed from Duterte’s pandemic borrowing.
A legislative majority was anticipated and Marcos’s opponents have expressed concern he’ll use it push via constitutional adjustments to entrench his household’s rule for many years to return.
Marcos Jr’s essential alliance with operating mate and incoming vp Sara Duterte-Carpio – the president’s daughter – might guarantee assist in Congress and co-opt politicians loyal to her father, who additionally loved majority legislative assist.
The brand new senators be part of 12 incumbents who have been elected in mid-term polls in 2019, most of these Duterte supporters.
Broadly anticipated to develop into Senate president is Cynthia Villar, spouse of a billionaire, whose son additionally gained a Senate seat having campaigned underneath Marcos’s “Uniteam”.
Marcos’s cousin, Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, is more likely to develop into decrease home speaker, in keeping with political analysts, having acquired pledges of assist from the overwhelming majority of the 300 newly decrease home lawmakers, amongst them Marcos’s eldest son.
Cristina Palabay, secretary normal of rights group, Karapatan, mentioned the backing Marcos may have doesn’t bode effectively for checks and balances.
“It’s worrisome that Marcos and Duterte allies may have supermajority,” Palabay mentioned.
“His priorities and agenda may be something that’s constant together with his father’s insurance policies and politics, and to Duterte’s.”
(Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Further Reporting by Karen Lema; Enhancing by Martin Petty)
