Parties in the coming midterm elections

WITH the start of the senatorial and party-list election campaign period last Tuesday, a great deal of public discussion is bound to move towards politics, after so many months dominated by a host of other issues, notably typhoons and floods, high prices, bombing in Mindanao, and “pork barrel” in the national budget.

In the days of the old two-party system before martial law in 1972, the two principal national parties – the Nacionalistas and the Liberals – drew up two rival lists of senatorial candidates, usually people with considerable experience in government endorsed by experienced party leaders who were also nationally known government figures. These days, however, voters hardly consider party membership in their decisions.

For this year’s midterm elections, several groups have come forward with separate lists of candidates. The closest to an established party, the PDP-Laban, which functioned as President Duterte’s national party in the 2016 election, has come out with five candidates, with its doors open to other pro-Duterte candidates.

The “Hugpong ng Pagbabago,” organized by Duterte’s daughter Mayor Sara Duterte of Davao City, has a group of 13 senatorial candidates, although only 12 are to be elected in May.

But President Duterte appears to have his own personal list of candidates – “Du It Pilipinas” – with 11 candidates, some of whom are also in the PDP-Laban and Hugpong lists.

Then there is Vice President Leni Robredo’s “Oposisyon Koalisyon” or “Otso Diretso” with eight candidates from the Liberal Party, Aksyon Demokratiko, party-list groups Magdalo and Akbayan, and other groups. This is the closest to an opposition in the coming elections.

When the people vote for 12 senators on May 13, 2019, they are likely to choose from these various lists, although they may vote for anyone in the Comelec’s list of 63 approved senatorial candidates. They may vote for those who meet their personal criteria for senators. Some will want to follow a leader’s position or suggestion. But there are many who want the Senate to show greater independence than the House and stand up to balance a strong executive – and will vote accordingly.

It is difficult to say at this stage of the campaign which view will prevail in the coming election. Let us just welcome this opportunity to vote on May 13 as our right as citizens of a thriving democracy.