As the May 2025 elections approach, the number of candidates from political dynasties is rising sharply. Whether retired veterans or newly minted neophytes, these candidates share a common trait: they carry influential or notorious family names. In fact, political dynasties have overshadowed political parties in the Philippines. As one observer noted, political dynasties excel in grooming, training, and preparing the next generation of leaders—provided they remain within the family.
Political dynasties, as discussed in previous posts, undermine democracy. The argument that some dynasties are “good” misses the point—dynasties, by definition, are a form of corruption. They corrupt the selection process, prioritizing familial ties over merit and competency. When multiple family members hold positions across government, it opens the door to collusion and compromises checks and balances. With political families entrenched in power, they begin to treat public offices as personal fiefdoms. They become less accountable, using the machinery of government—the law, police, courts, and criminal justice system—to intimidate opponents and silence critics.
Violence is another inevitable consequence of political dynasties. Since public office becomes the family’s source of livelihood, any challenge to their position is perceived as a direct threat. This drives them to embed their children and grandchildren into politics, or to form alliances through marriage with other powerful political families. Any sign of opposition is swiftly crushed—violently if necessary.
One of the key causes of political dynasties is the weak political party system. Philippine political parties revolve around personalities rather than platforms. Outside of progressive and sectoral parties, there is little to distinguish between the parties. They are collections of personalities who realign themselves every election cycle, without clear ideologies or programs.
Another reason for the persistence of political dynasties is voter behavior. The electorate tolerates dynasties, often choosing between rival political families rather than considering candidates with the best qualifications. This creates a cycle: political dynasties dominate because they are the only visible option, and voters continue to elect them because alternatives are either unavailable or overlooked.
Possible Remedies
1. Enforcement of Anti-Dynasty Laws: While the Philippine Constitution mandates the passage of an anti-political dynasty law, it has yet to be enacted. Enforcing such a law could help break dynastic control.
2. Strengthening Political Parties: Political parties need to be reformed to focus on platforms and ideologies, rather than personalities. A robust political party system could offer alternatives to dynastic rule.
3. Voter Education: Educating the electorate on the dangers of political dynasties and encouraging them to consider candidates based on merit could help shift voting patterns.
4. Electoral Reforms: Campaign finance reforms and greater transparency in the electoral process can help level the playing field for non-dynastic candidates.
Political dynasties may be deeply embedded in the Philippine political landscape, but with the right reforms, their influence can be curbed, opening the door to a more democratic and merit-based system.
Image from thelordofthenerds.wordpress.com
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