Philippines elections 2025: polls open in midterms as Marcos and Duterte family dynasties vie for power
GuardianMAY 10
Philippines Holds Midterm Elections
Above: People wait to vote as election officials (foreground) work at a polling station during mid-term elections in Manila on May 12, 2025. Image copyright: Jam Sta Rosa/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
The Marcos Jr. administration has brought prosperity to the Philippines. Today, the country is one of the world's fastest-growing and most dynamic economies, with unemployment at its lowest level in two decades. In contrast, the alternative is a discredited political dynasty led by a former president wanted for crimes against humanity and his daughter, accused of plotting to assassinate the president. To safeguard the nation's future, administration-aligned candidates must prevail over Sara Duterte’s loyalists.
Narrative B
At their core, these elections are about safeguarding democratic institutions and protecting political actors from targeted persecution. The recent impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte and the ICC detention of former President Rodrigo Duterte are attacks aimed at eliminating Marcos Jr.’s political opposition. Rodrigo’s re-election, however, demonstrates that despite the smears, public confidence still holds in the political family that steered the Philippines onto the right track.