Latest news with #politicaldynasties
Fox News
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Andrew Cuomo's candidacy for mayor shows Democratic fixation on dynasties, liberal columnist frets
Liberal New York Times columnist Mara Gay argued in a piece on Thursday that former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's candidacy for mayor was part of a larger problem with the Democratic Party's fixation on political dynasties and seniority. "Mr. Cuomo's presence in the field has made it nearly impossible for these Democrats to get noticed. His return is a vivid example of the dysfunction eating away at the Democratic Party nationally. For the last decade, a group of uninspiring politicians have stomped out competition and held on to power. Many of them have clear flaws and liabilities," Gay wrote. Cuomo, who resigned from his position as governor in 2021 over several sexual harassment allegations, is the top choice for 38% of likely Democratic primary voters in New York City, according to a Marist Poll released on Wednesday. "The Democratic establishment has often prized seniority and incumbency over reason," Gay wrote, pointing to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez being skipped over as the top member on the House Oversight Committee for 74-year-old Gerry Connolly, who passed away in May. "But whether the problem is stale ideas or lack of fitness, a fixation on seniority or on political dynasties, the practical effect is roughly the same." Lis Smith, a Democratic strategist and former aide to Cuomo, told Gay, "This is the dinosaur wing of the Democratic Party." "They're just there to protect themselves and not rock the boat," Smith added. Cuomo was also under investigation while he was governor for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic amid allegations his administration vastly understated COVID-related deaths at state nursing homes. Cuomo is running against Zorhan Mamdani, a 33-year-old far-left, socialist state assemblyman from Queens, as well as New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who was arrested by DHS agents on Tuesday. According to the Marist poll, Mamdani stands in second place behind Cuomo with 27% support in the primary, which is conducted using a ranked-choice voting system in which voters rank candidates by preference on their ballots. Gay discussed her column on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," and said Cuomo was a "real standard-bearer" of people within the Democratic Party "who have held on to power by stomping out competition by using really big name recognition, but haven't really delivered for their constituents." The piece noted that former President Joe Biden chose to run for re-election despite voter apprehensions about his age, which turned out to be disastrous for the Democrast when he was forced out of the race last year. Gay said Cuomo delivered for some New Yorkers but added, "there's a broad base of the Democratic Party, including just young professionals, and older people who want to see more fight against Donald Trump, and they are very angry at the Democratic Party establishment." "Mr. Cuomo may be elected mayor anyway. Even if he is, the Democrats have to realize that becoming the serious opposition party the country needs requires them to embrace competition, and let the best talent rise to govern cities and states in a way that works for a majority of their constituents. The dinosaur wing doesn't have the answers. It's in the way," Gay wrote in her column. Mamdani secured endorsements from Ocasio-Cortez as well as Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who expressed a need for "new politics and new leadership" in his endorsement statement.
CNA
22-05-2025
- Politics
- CNA
Philippine president asks Cabinet secretaries to resign in post-midterm poll reset
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has called on all of his Cabinet secretaries to resign following an underwhelming result in the country's midterm election a week ago. Last week's polls were seen as a proxy battle between the country's main political dynasties. It saw more opposition candidates take control of crucial seats in the Senate. Buena Bernal reports from Manila.
CNA
15-05-2025
- Politics
- CNA
Commentary: Why political families still dominate in Southeast Asia
RABAT, Morocco: In the Philippines' midterm elections this week, the Marcoses and Dutertes were once again front and centre in headlines, showing the continued dominance of political families in the Southeast Asian nation. Despite being detained in The Hague for crimes against humanity, former President Rodrigo Duterte was overwhelmingly elected as mayor of his home city in Davao. His youngest son clinched the vice-mayor position, while his eldest son was re-elected as a member of the House of Representatives and two of his grandsons secured key Davao city posts. Meanwhile, his daughter Sara is the country's vice president, although now facing impeachment proceedings over an alleged threat to assassinate ally-turned-foe President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. The bitter feud between the pair has polarised voters and raised concerns over political stability ahead of the 2028 presidential race. It has also brought into renewed attention the staying power of political dynasties, not just in the Philippines, but across Southeast Asia. HISTORICAL ROOTS OF DYNASTIC POWER Mr Marcos was sworn in as president of the Philippines in June 2022, marking a dramatic return to power for a family once ousted in a popular uprising. His victory, built on a campaign that rewrote his father's dictatorial legacy, underscored a paradoxical trend in Southeast Asia where political dynasties continue to thrive in democracies that ostensibly reject inherited power. From Thailand's Shinawatra clan to Indonesia's Sukarno lineage, political families wield significant influence throughout the region, or at least try to do so. This raises urgent questions about representation, accountability and the future of democracy itself. Southeast Asia's affinity for hereditary politics is deeply rooted in its colonial and post-independence history. Modern state structures in the region emerged from administrations that relied on local elites to maintain control. These elites – wealthy landowners or traditional leaders – transitioned seamlessly into political roles after independence, blending kinship networks with bureaucratic power. The result was a system where family ties, rather than meritocratic ideals, became the currency of influence. In the Philippines, the Marcos family's resurgence reflects a nostalgia among some voters for an era of perceived stability, even as critics warn of historical amnesia. WHY DYNASTIES ENDURE The persistence of these dynasties hinges on three interconnected factors: name recognition, resource control and patronage networks. Political heirs inherit more than just a surname; they wield established voter loyalty and infrastructure. Thailand's Pheu Thai Party, long associated with the Shinawatra family, has repeatedly leveraged its rural support base, built through populist policies such as healthcare and farm subsidies. Such dynasties consolidate power by directing state resources to loyal constituencies, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of dependency. While political heirs are often male – sons like Mr Marcos, Cambodia's Hun Manet, or Najib Razak in Malaysia, groomed to succeed their fathers – the region also offers examples of women inheriting political legacies. Thailand's Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has emerged as a leading figure in her family's party, framing her rise as a continuation of her father's populist agenda. In Indonesia, Ms Megawati, daughter of founding president Sukarno, served as president from 2001 to 2004 and remains a key figure in Indonesian politics. Yet, even as these women ascend, they confront entrenched gender biases, navigating a dual burden of upholding familial legacies while operating in systems still dominated by men. THE DEMOCRACY DILEMMA The rise of hereditary democracy, as critics term it, poses a fundamental challenge to egalitarian ideals. While dynasties project stability, their dominance risks entrenching inequality and stifling competition. Younger leaders from non-elite backgrounds struggle to access funding or media visibility, perpetuating a closed system. According to the Philippines Center for Investigative Journalism, at least two dozen political dynasties were seeking to secure at least five seats each in the May 2025 elections. With such dominance, policymaking risks becoming a battleground for elite factions rather than a forum addressing broader public concerns. This phenomenon is far from unique to Southeast Asia. Across the globe, hereditary politics thrives in both emerging and established democracies. In the United States, names like the Kennedys, Bushes and Clintons have shaped national politics for decades, while Canada's Trudeaus and France's Le Pens underscore how familial legacies permeate Western democracies. In India, the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty has dominated Congress Party politics for generations. Globally, the phenomenon has drawn scrutiny for perpetuating power imbalances. Hereditary politics undermines meritocracy, as governance becomes less about collective welfare and more about maintaining dynastic control. In Southeast Asia, as in the West, voters oscillate between frustration with elite entrenchment and resignation to its inevitability. The key difference lies in institutional resilience, with stronger institutions in established democracies often mitigating some, if not most, of the corrosive effects of dynastic rule. THE PATH AHEAD Breaking this cycle requires systemic reforms – strengthening party systems, enforcing anti-nepotism laws, and empowering grassroots movements. However, elites often adapt, co-opting reforms to maintain influence. The rise of social media offers a glimmer of disruption, enabling outsider candidates to bypass traditional gatekeepers. Yet, dynasties are also learning to leverage these platforms, as Mr Marcos's TikTok-driven rebranding demonstrated. Meanwhile, the global discourse on 'political nepo-babies' highlights growing disillusionment with hereditary privilege, pressuring democracies to reckon with systemic inequities. Ultimately, Southeast Asia's dynasties reflect a broader struggle to reconcile tradition with modernity. Their staying power lies not in inevitability, but in the unmet promises of their nations' democracies. As the region grapples with climate change, inequality and authoritarian resurgence, the question remains: Can it afford to keep power in the family? Dr Sophie Lemiere is a political anthropologist who specialises in Malaysian and Southeast Asian politics, and has held research and teaching positions in major universities across Europe, the United States and Southeast Asia. She is currently Research Fellow at College de France in Paris.
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Millions vote in Philippines midterms as Marcos-Duterte feud heats up
Summary About 68 million eligible voters in the Philippines are heading to the polls in mid-terms that will decide the fate of a long-running power struggle between the country's two biggest political dynasties The senate races pit candidates backed by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr against those supported by Vice-President Sara Duterte, daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte If Marcos' senate picks win more seats, it increases his chances of impeaching Sara Duterte for alleged misuse of state funds - this would bar her from seeking the presidency in 2028 Also on the ballot are candidates for the 317-member Congress, hundreds of governors, mayors and city councillors Voting runs from 07:00 local time (00:00 BST; 23:00 GMT) to 19:00, with unofficial results expected soon after To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. This video can not be played Live Reporting Edited by Tessa Wong, with reporting by Joel Guinto and Koh Ewe in Singapore, and Jonathan Head and Virma Simonette in Manila. Cardinals urge voters to 'listen to the voice of the Lord'published at 07:43 British Summer Time 07:43 BST Image source, Getty Images Ahead of the election today, Catholic cardinals from the Philippines have urged voters to let the spirit of God guide their voting. The Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, Socrates Villegas, told voters to "listen to the voice of Our Lady, not to the voice of money". "Let us listen to the voice of the Lord, and not to the voice of lying, not to the voice of disinformation, not to the voice of fake news,' he said in a homily. Meanwhile, Philippine cardinals who attended the papal conclave at the Vatican urged voters to view the election as a "sacred moment". Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle - who were both seen as potential contenders for the papacy - said the oath taken by electors in the conclave could also be used by Catholic voters in any election, reported Rappler., external The oath is: 'I call as my witness Christ the Lord, who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one who, before God, I think should be elected.' 'This is also my message to candidates... let's help each other have new models of leadership," said Cardinal David. With more than 80 million Catholics, the Philippines has the biggest Catholic population in Asia and the third-largest in the world. Two killed in suspected election violence in Silay citypublished at 07:09 British Summer Time 07:09 BST As Filipinos head to the polls, reports have been trickling in of suspected election-related violence. Two people were killed and several injured in a shooting in Silay city, Negros Occidental on Monday morning. The victims were supporters of Silay Mayor Joedith Gallego, who is running for re-election today, authorities said. In Davao Occidental, a child was injured by a stray bullet on Monday, the election commission chairman told reporters, though he did not say if the incident was related to the election. "We don't know why they feel the need to fire their guns," he said. At least two political candidates have also been shot and killed leading up to election day, while four people were killed in Mindanao during a clash on Sunday. As we reported earlier, such deaths around elections are not uncommon for the country, which has lax gun laws and a violent political culture. New vote counting technology deployed for the first timepublished at 06:52 British Summer Time 06:52 BST For more than a decade, the Philippines has used electronic voting machines to boost the speed and accuracy of vote counting. This year, the country is switching its vote counting machine provider to Miru Systems, a South Korean polling company. Last year the company was the lone bidder for a government contract worth 17.9bn Philippine pesos ($325m; £244m) to provide some 110,000 automated counting machines for the mid-term polls. However, Miru has faced controversy in countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Iraq. Critics say the company's technology is prone to hacking and fraud - claims that the company has denied. Race to watch: Mayor of Manilapublished at 06:28 British Summer Time 06:28 BST Joel Guinto Live reporter Image source, Getty Images Manila is the capital city of the Philippines - not to be confused with Metro Manila, the capital region that is comprised of 16 cities, including Manila, and one municipality. The city of Manila is is rich in history, and home to the presidential palace. Its leader is tasked with the upkeep of many of the country's cultural treasures, as well as receiving VIP visitors from overseas. This is where Isko Moreno wants to make a comeback. Moreno, a former teen heartthrob, was tipped to be a strong presidential candidate in 2022. But his rags-to-riches tale of garbage picker to mayor was no match against Marcos' promise of a new golden age. Moreno, who was Manila mayor from 2019 to 2022, has promised to 'Make Manila Great Again', borrowing the language of Donald Trump. He is running against incumbent Honey Lacuna, a medical doctor and veteran politician who was his vice mayor. In Photos: Filipinos head to the pollspublished at 06:05 British Summer Time 06:05 BST Voting is in full swing across the Philippines. Here are the latest images we're seeing from the capital Manila, where Filipinos have been streaming into schools to cast their vote, and getting their thumbnails inked as proof of having voted. Image source, Getty Images Image source, Getty Images Image source, Getty Images Image source, Getty Images Philippine senators play an intricate game of politicspublished at 05:35 British Summer Time 05:35 BST Joel Guinto Live reporter With 12 of the 24 Senate seats up for grabs today, it's important to note that the Philippines' multi-party system is based less on principles and more on shifting loyalties among the political elite. The president - who serves for six years and is not eligible for any re-election - wields considerable power under a system that is modelled on that of the US, the Philippines' last colonial overseer. Presidents have historically controlled the House, and depended on the national government to fund projects for their congressional districts. They typically have less influence on the Senate, which decades of personality-based politics has turned into a bench for presidents- and vice presidents-in-waiting. Senators, especially those with ambitions for higher office, play a very intricate game. They don't want to be out of the good graces of the presidential palace, which holds considerable power, yet don't want to be seen as too subservient to the president. How did the Marcos family return to power?published at 05:10 British Summer Time 05:10 BST Image source, Getty Images Back in 2022, the Philippines saw history come full circle with the election of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr as president. A ruling family which was driven out of power 36 years ago, accused of spectacular greed and brutality, returned to the Malacañang, the presidential palace. It was a stunning blow to those in the Philippines who have campaigned for accountability for the abuses of the old Marcos era. The Marcos family has never apologised for those abuses, nor given back much of the treasure they are accused of stealing from the national purse. How did the Marcos family do it? You can read our correspondent Jonathan Head's analysis here. Inmates cast their ballots from Philippine prisonspublished at 04:29 British Summer Time 04:29 BST Around 31,000 inmates across the Philippines have registered to vote in today's election, according to the country's Commission on Elections. Many of those voting from prisons are still awaiting trial. These voters cast their ballots from a prison in Muntinlupa City, south of central Manila, where they were searched by guards before entering their polling stations. Image source, Getty Images Image source, Getty Images Image source, Getty Images Voters call for election winners to 'prioritise the people'published at 03:55 British Summer Time 03:55 BST The BBC team in Manila has been speaking to voters at polling stations. One of them is nursing student Luisa Rivera, who is voting for the first time. 'I want good governance and accountability. As a first time voter, I've researched politicians that I will be voting. Never will I vote for a political dynasty," she said. 'I hope that those who will win this election would prioritise the people and not themselves and political careers,' she added. Meanwhile, senior citizen Aida Tungod said she did not vote for the Duterte's slate of senatorial candidates, as she hopes that "the winners will help the people genuinely, especially the poor". Hospital janitor Robert Dizon told us: 'This election and every election is not just about filling the circle on the paper. People need to realise that the politicians they are voting will dictate which support they will be getting for years." "I hope Filipinos vote smart this time.' Imelda Marcos votes alongside her sonpublished at 03:33 British Summer Time 03:33 BST Imelda Marcos, the mother of current Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and widow of former dictator president Ferdinand Marcos, has voted alongside her son in the northern Batac City. Pictures of the 95-year-old on a wheelchair escorted into the polling station appeared on her son's Facebook page. She was wearing red clothing with a butterfly brooch - at the height of her power, she was known as the "Steel Butterfly". For more on Imelda and the Marcos family, you can read our explainer here. Image source, Bongbong Marcos/Facebook Image source, Bongbong Marcos/Facebook First images from polling stations coming inpublished at 03:09 British Summer Time 03:09 BST We're getting some early images from polling stations in the capital Manila. More than 68 million Filipinos are registered to vote in today's election. Image source, Getty Images Image source, Getty Images Image source, Getty Images Rodrigo Duterte pursues political comeback as Davao mayorpublished at 02:48 British Summer Time 02:48 BST Image source, Getty Images He may have been detained for two months before the International Criminal Court, but former President Rodrigo Duterte is still in the running for mayor in his home base, Davao City. His son Sebastian Duterte, who is the current mayor of Davao, is his running mate. It is unclear how duties will be split between father and son if they succeed. The senior Duterte was mayor of the southern city of Davao for 22 years before he became president in 2016. During his presidential campaign he frequently touted Davao as a model for security policies he planned to roll out nationwide. Last year, he admitted that he kept a 'death squad' to crack down on crime in the city. Duterte remains hugely popular and influential in Davao City. If you're just joining uspublished at 02:34 British Summer Time 02:34 BST Image source, Getty Images If you're just joining us, this is what we've been reporting on so far: Voting is underway across the Philippines. Polls opened at 07:00 local time (00:00 BST) and will close at 19:00 (12:00 BST) More than 18,000 positions are up for grabs across national and local government Tensions between the Marcos and Duterte political dynasties hang over the election The most-closely watched will be the 12 senate seats. The new composition of the 24-seat senate could have a big impact on the impeachment motion facing current vice-president, Sara Duterte The senate become jurors in an impeachment trial. A two thirds majority - at least 16 votes - are required But as our South East Asia Correspondent Jonathan Head writes: "Filipino senators have their own interests and ambitions; whatever their current allegiance, they will want to assess where public opinion lies before deciding which way to vote when the impeachment trial begins in the senate later this year." Bread and butter issues overshadowed by 'showbiz style' campaigningpublished at 02:12 British Summer Time 02:12 BST Jonathan Head BBC South East Asia Correspondent I'm at the Dr Alejandro Albert elementary school, one of the largest polling stations in the capital. There are thousands of people here - they vote early in the Philippines because of the heat. It is all impressively well-organised with dozens of volunteers to help guide people on the voting process and showing them where to vote - they are casting ballots at several different schoolrooms here. There are more than 18,000 posts being contested in this election, from city councilors to mayors, from provincial governors to congressmen and senators. So the ballot papers are quite complicated and many voters need some guidance on how to make their choices. Although the Marcos Duterte feud overshadows this election, it isn't the main factor deciding people's votes. Personality and celebrity are what decide electoral contests here - people tend to vote for someone they know and like. Local contests are dominated by locally-prominent families, some of which have monopolized political positions for generations. People do care about bread and butter issues like inflation and jobs more than ideology or clan loyalties, but it's difficult to cut through the avalanche of showbiz-style campaigning and all the gushing promises made and assess how office-holders have really performed. Filipinos are enthusiastic democrats, accustomed to perpetual disappointment, but they always seem to enjoy the show. Violence in the Philippine electionspublished at 01:48 British Summer Time 01:48 BST Violence around elections in the Philippines is not uncommon. This election has also seen deaths. Local media outlet Rappler has reported that four people were killed in a pre-election clash on Sunday in Basilan, an island off the coast of Mindanao. On 28 April, a party-list nominee, Ang Bumbero ng Pilipinas, was shot dead in Manila. Following the shooting, the chairperson of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), George Garcia said: "We condemn to the strongest possible terms these killings as it is the ballots that should reign in a democracy, not bullets." Comelec has said "fewer than 20" candidates have been killed in this election campaign, which it said was an improvement on previous polls. "This is much lower, very low compared to the past," Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco told the AFP. In 2009, 58 people - mostly journalists - were massacred in the south, still considered the worst incident of election violence in the country's recent history. Return to the latest post 'Power, survival and revenge': Three things you need to know about the Philippines electionpublished at 01:21 British Summer Time 01:21 BST Our South East Asia Correspondent Jonathan Head sets out the stakes for Monday's election in the Philippines. To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. This video can not be played Why the president's sister is competing on a Duterte ticketpublished at 00:58 British Summer Time 12 May 00:58 BST 12 May Joel Guinto Live reporter Image source, Getty Images Senator Imee Marcos, President Bongbong Marcos' older sister, is fighting to secure one of the last slots in the senatorial race. To boost her chances, she left her brother's senatorial ticket and secured the endorsement of his main political foe: Vice-President Sara Duterte. In fiercely fought elections, votes from the Duterte stronghold of southern Philippines often decide the outcome. But Imee is walking a political tightrope: courting the Duterte vote at a time when her brother is fighting that family for his own political survival. Imee has never mentioned her brother by name, and the president has not criticised her either. Filipino culture hates siblings fighting. What to know about the Philippine senatepublished at 00:32 British Summer Time 12 May 00:32 BST 12 May Image source, Reuters As we've mentioned, for many, the focus of this election will be the senate races. Apart from making laws, senators also have the power to approve or reject treaties, decide on the impeachment of top officials and hold high-profile investigations in aid of legislation. The Senate president, who is elected among the senators, is also in the line of succession after the vice-president. Half of the current 24-member Senate was elected in 2022 and will serve until 2028. Of the other half who were elected in 2019, seven are seeking reelection this year, four are not running as they have reached the limit of two successive six-year terms, while one resigned to replace Sara as education secretary after she resigned from the Marcos cabinet. Alliances are shaky and shift easily. As a holding room for future presidents and vice presidents, senators must consider their ambitions before any political move. Except for Rodrigo Duterte, four of the last five presidents, including Marcos, were senators first. What elections are taking place today?published at 00:18 British Summer Time 12 May 00:18 BST 12 May Image source, Reuters There are more than 18,000 elected positions up for grabs today in the Philippines. Voting began at 07:00 local time (00:00 BST) and will run until 19:00 local time (12:00 BST). The most closely-watched will be the 12 Senate seats available - from a total of 24 senators. The winners of those races could have a big impact on the outcome of Vice-President Sara Duterte's impeachment proceedings. Senate members become jurors during impeachment proceedings. A two-thirds majority - at least 16 votes - is required for an impeachment to pass. Mayors, vice-mayors and councillors are elected by city and municipality. Former president Rodrigo Duterte, 80, is the on the ballot for mayor of Davao, his home city, despite awaiting trial at the International Criminal Court in the Hague. Of the 317 seats in the House of Representatives, 254 are voted directly by each district, the other 63 are elected from a party-list. Who is running under the Duterte ticket?published at 00:08 British Summer Time 12 May 00:08 BST 12 May Notable among former President Rodrigo Duterte's senatorial slate are his trusted aide Bong Go and former police chief Ronald dela Ros – both of whom oversaw Duterte's 'war on drugs', in which thousands of suspected drug users and dealers were killed in controversial police operations. The slate, known as DuterTen, also includes fugitive pastor Apollo Quiboloy, a movie star, a pop singer and a handful of Duterte loyalists. Several of the candidates are members of the PDP-Laban, or Democratic Party of the Philippines, a respected pro-democracy party from the 1980s that served as the vehicle for Rodrigo Duterte's campaign in 2016. previous page 1 2 next page Home News Sport Business Innovation Culture Travel Earth Audio Video Live Terms of Use About the BBC Privacy Policy Cookies Accessibility Help Parental Guidance Contact the BBC BBC emails for you Advertise with us Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.
