ROBREDO PROPOSES ‘OPEN DISCUSSIONS’ ON RUNOFF ELECTIONS
It is high time for the Philippines to discuss the possibility of holding runoff elections, Vice President Leni Robredo said on Friday, as she discussed several possible reforms to strengthen politics in the country.
During the KBP forum for presidential candidates that aired on Friday, Robredo said the country must “open discussions” on runoff elections, which are the norm in other democratic countries.
Ban turncoatism
Runoffs are common in primary elections, where voters choose the candidates to run on the ballot for a particular political party. A runoff election essentially ensures that a winning candidate meets the required threshold for votes.
“We need to talk about whether that would work for us,” she said.
Apart from that, Robredo also floated the possibility of banning turncoatism among political parties, to establish clear ideological lines among those seeking public office.
The Vice President has always been keen on putting a stop to this practice, as she believes that political parties should represent clear advocacies and principles, not a means to propel one’s candidacy and political ambitions.
Unlike most countries, the Philippines is home to several parties centered around political figures rather than ideological differences.
For her part, Robredo chairs the once-ruling Liberal Party, which was then deserted by its members when President Duterte took office in 2016.
She also wants to pass legislation that would ban premature campaigning as well as electoral substitutions “as these are prone to so many abuses.”
These measures, she said, would not only strengthen politics here but “would also help revive our democracy.”