Mercury (Hobart)

DUTERTE IN POWER GRAB

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President Rodrigo Duterte will stand to be vicepresid­ent in the next Philippine election in an effort to prolong his grip on power, increasing speculatio­n that his ambitious daughter, Sara, is being groomed for the top job.

Mr Duterte’s six-year term ends next year and under the constituti­on he cannot run a second time. But his party has named him as its candidate for the vice-presidency, suggesting the leader will be a puppet.

The announceme­nt was met with apparent coolness by Sara, a popular politician who has been seen as a potential presidenti­al frontrunne­r.

However, this was regarded as an attempt to disarm criticism the family is bent on establishi­ng another of the dynasties that have dominated Philippine politics for decades.

The vice-presidency would enable Duterte, 76, to exercise continuing influence over the new government.

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