Cabaero: Familiar tensions

I WAS one of those who stayed up to watch the inauguration of new United States President Donald J. Trump on television.

I was not surprised to hear his “American first” inaugural speech, but I worried about the impact of his policies on the Philippines, on the economy, on Filipinos living in the United States, and on the territory dispute with China. But those worries can wait for the next days or weeks when Trump gets to talk more about his foreign policy.

Political watchers have drawn comparisons between Trump’s ascendancy and the election and governance of President Rodrigo Duterte. They said the two leaders have built their election campaigns on the anti-establishment and anti-elite sentiments of voters and have gained reputations of being strong-willed, foul-mouthed, making reckless public statements, fighting with media and insulting others.

But there is one difference. The United States has been a democracy for over 200 years from its independence, ratification of its Constitution, George Washington’s assumption of office until his retirement and the consequent transfer of power. The Philippines has about a hundred years starting with limited self-government after the Spanish era, then developing into a democratic republic with three branches of government and regular elections for the change in leadership.

That is why they say America is a participatory, mature and stable democracy, while Philippine democracy is fragile, young and still evolving.

Before Trump assumed office he already faced criticism from senators and representatives from the opposing party. A day after his inauguration, protest actions were held in major cities to criticize Trump’s racist and anti-women positions.

The call for Americans to accept Trump’s poll victory was met with declarations of citizens to not keep silent when rights are violated. This critical welcome to Trump shows there is no honeymoon for him or that period after a new President takes office when he is given elbow room to set things up with little or no criticism.

Duterte’s rise to power enjoys popular backing. Those in the opposition did not stay long in the opposition as they jumped to Duterte’s party even before he could say “Jump” or before the new Congress was constituted. Criticism of Duterte was limited to a few in government and to the decimated opposition. Duterte is still in a honeymoon, at least with former officials and personalities who have refrained from making critical public statements, until after his one year in Malacanang.

Both Trump and Duterte have quarreled with media, called for boycotts of certain networks, and identified journalists who, they said, got their information wrong. Philippine media got its share of lambasting by Duterte and his supporters, but those targeted largely had to respond on their own, with little or no institutional support.

Tensions faced by Trump and Duterte are familiar, in young or old democracies. A country with centuries of experience in democracy can survive criticism of its leaders better than a younger democracy. But a young democracy has the benefit of models.

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