Tell it to SunStar: No need to ban political dynasties

FOR more than two decades since I lived in the Philippines, I hear people say, “Our government is corrupt.” I wonder. Why do you elect corrupt politicians? Then Filipinos tell me, “We have no other choice.

Most party membership here consists primarily of political figures and leaders with little or no grassroots membership. They have rise-and-fall-and-rise character. That is why no numbers are indicated for membership.

In Germany, the two big center parties have more than 430,000 members each, the seven parties represented in the federal parliament together have more than 1.2 million members.

When I was a member of the Socialdemocratic Party (SPD), I witnessed comrades expounding on workers’ interests in terms that would do honor to a university professor. They had gone through seminars organized by the party and the Unions. And they had studied books and newspapers.

German parties are financed to a major extent by tax money as reward for their important role in society: To influence public opinion, to promote active participation of citizens in political life, to train citizens capable of assuming political responsibility, to nominate candidates for elections in all levels, to contribute to the elaboration of party programs (short and long term), etc.

There is no democracy - in a unitary or a federal system--without principled grassroots parties and fair suffrage.

The much bedeviled dynasts shall enter the party of their preference in their barangay and rise up the ranks according to their competency, reliability, honesty etc. They shall fight shoulder to shoulder with common party members for the realization of their party’s program.

If they can convince their party-mates of their competence they will get their mandate for the respective next higher level of responsibility. Party discipline will prevent them from taking undue advantage. Furthermore those born in palaces and haciendas have the same rights as any low born Filipino, not less and not more.

The 1987 Constitution Preamble Article II, Declaration of State Policies Section 26 reads: “The state shall guaranty equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.” The second half sentence contradicts the universal declaration of Human Rights that says that, “Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.”

This also means that limiting party-list organizations’ seats in the Lower House is unconstitutional. The sovereign people will decide how many seats a party gets in parliament. There are no regular and irregular seats.

We all know that the anti-dynasty law is elusive and we know why: Because Filipinos elect dynasts into public service again and again through undemocratic elections. In a genuine party system, there is no need to prohibit political dynasties.

Not all dynasts are bad. To distinguish the good from the bad, Filipinos must get to know their candidates.--Erich Wannemacher, Lapu-Lapu City

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