The Potential Policies of Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Probable Next President of the Philippines

Although the actual election isn’t for another six weeks, current polling suggests Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is all but a lock to succeed Rodrigo Duterte as the Philippines’ next president. Marcos, who is the son of the late longtime Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., has opened up a massive lead against his nearest challenger, current Vice President Leni Robredo.

Given what a divisive figure he is among sections of the Philippine population, Marcos will also benefit from the rules governing the country’s one-round presidential election, in which a simple plurality, rather than a majority, suffices to win. The opposition, currently fragmented around six candidates, might stand a chance if it rallied around one clear rival to Marcos, but so far that hasn’t happened and it seems unlikely.  

As a result, it’s not premature to consider what to expect from Marcos as president. For more on his possible policies, see my new World Politics Review article at: https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/30442/in-presidential-elec…