We need to renew ‘new politics’ for the May 2022 polls
We need to renew ‘new politics’ for the May 2022 polls
New politics has formidable challenges, however. For one, ensuring genuine people’s representation in government requires enforcing the constitutional ban on political dynasties.’
By Bobby Tuazon
“New politics” is a collective term that traces its roots to the country’s post-war independence. In three separate periods, three political formations entered the electoral arena, embodying the principles of “new politics” as a pivotal shift from dynastic or elite politics to one that would serve the country’s sovereign and democratic interests.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) was a leftist party formed in 1945, and in the 1946 elections backed Sergio Osmeña (NP) for the presidency against Manuel Roxas (LP) due to the latter’s alleged sympathy toward Filipino Japanese collaborators during the war. But the six DA candidates – all coming from Central Luzon – who were elected to the House were barred from taking office on alleged fraud. In truth, the sixth among them, Luis Taruc, had opposed onerous treaties with the US that were eventually signed by Roxas, including the 1947 bases agreement and parity amendment that gave Americans rights to exploit the country’s national resources.
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