Liberal Party

Mar Roxas, current Liberal Party president, was in the headlines two weeks ago for swearing at President Arroyo during a rally to protest plans to change the constitution. About the same time, I was reading an edited collection of articles by members of the Liberal Party, Liberal Views on Constitutional Reform by Antonio Nachura and Jonathan Malaya, advocating strongly for a shift to a federal, parliamentary form of government. Florencio Abad actually makes a strong case for a parliamentary form of government based on evidence provided by political science research.

I can understand the change of heart since charter change now will obviously benefit the current administration, and stifle LP's chances of recapturing the presidency after forty years. I am even considering joining the party as it appears to be the only mainstream party whose members exhibit integrity and competence while having a decent chance of winning. I am beginning to doubt, however, whether Roxas can actually win as most surveys indicate that the early leaders are Legarda, De Castro, and Villar.

Ultimately, I think, a genuine, programmatic political party with a winning coalition of supporters has to arise in order for the polity to transcend the continuing hold of the landowning oligarchy. It remains to be seen whether Roxas can transform the LP into that party or it will take someone from my generation to overcome cynicism over politics and organize such a party.