Philippines elects new president

A total of 10 candidates participated in the presidential election, but the focus was on the confrontation between Mr. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (son of late President Ferdinand Marcos) and candidate Leni Robredo. According to the Rappler site, preliminary results based on 70.28% of the votes counted on the evening of May 9 (local time) showed that Mr. Marcos Jr., 64, had a far greater number of votes in favor of his rival Robredo.

During the campaign period, Mr. Marcos Jr. did not talk much about policy, only focused on the message of national unity. He also avoids answering to the media and participating in debates. According to Reuters, this figure is more likely to pursue a hard line as well as maintain the policies of his predecessor, especially on infrastructure. Meanwhile, the victory of Mrs. Robredo, 57, means the Philippines is more likely to follow a more liberal path and focus on addressing issues related to education, health, gender equality and the fight to eradicate poor.

People queue to vote in Metro Manila – Philippines on May 9 Photo: REUTERS

Despite their commitment to prioritize economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, both candidates did not support strong economic restructuring. Instead, they may target investment-related reforms, such as regulatory cuts and simplifications. Regarding foreign policy, the Philippines under Marcos Jr. or Ms. Robredo will maintain and strengthen relations with Washington. However, Mr. Marcos Jr. is said to be more “friendly” to China than Ms. Robredo, who is more likely to pursue a multilateral approach. According to Al Jazeera, analysts say this is considered the most remarkable presidential election in the Philippines in many years.

The Philippine Election Commission is expected to announce the majority of the election winners later this month. The president-elect will have seven weeks to prepare before the inauguration. During this phase, the president-elect’s transition team outlines policy plans and polls potential cabinet members.