The political framework of the Philippines

Political Outline

Current Political Leaders

President: Ferdinand "Bongbong" MARCOS, Jr (since 30 June 2022)
Vice-President: Sara DUTERTE-Carpio (since 30 June 2022)

Next Election Dates

Presidential: May 2028

Main Political Parties

The Philippines has a multi-party system and political parties usually have diverse ideologies. As a result, parties generally work together to form coalition governments. The largest political parties in the country are:

- Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD): centre to centre-right, conservative political party with religious overtones
- Party-list Coalition Foundation, Inc. (PCFI): big tent, a coalition of representatives of political organizations with party-list representation in the House of Representatives
- Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP): centre-left, democratic socialism, populism
- National Unity Party (NUP): centre-right, Christian democracy
- Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC): centre-right, social and liberal conservatism
- Nationalist Party (NP): centre-right, conservatism, populism. Oldest party in the country and historically dominated the political arena
- Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP): populist, federalist
- Liberal Party (LP): centre to centre-left, liberal, endeavours to tackle poverty and promote economic growth.

Executive Power

The President is both the Chief of State and head of Government and is directly elected by a popular vote to serve a single six-year term without the possibility of re-election, even if non-consecutive. He or she presides over and appoints the Cabinet members, and is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. The President holds the executive powers which include the implementation of the law in the country and running the day-to-day affairs. If the President resigns, is impeached or dies, the Vice President assumes the presidency.

Legislative Power

The legislature in the Philippines is bicameral. The parliament, called the Congress, consists of: the Senate (the upper house) having 24 seats with its members elected mostly by popular vote to serve (renewable) six-year terms, and the House of Representatives (the lower house) having 316 seats, with its members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms - with a limit of three consecutive terms. The President has the power to veto acts of the legislature, and in turn a supermajority (generally two-thirds) of legislators may act to override his veto. The people of the Philippines enjoy considerable political rights.