Why Reform Our Political Parties and Electoral System—A Primer

By Jose V. Abueva


No constitution of the Philippines promoted political parties as institutions of democracy.
For this reason, the Draft Constitution of the Citizens’ Movement for a Federal Philippines (CMFP) proposed a separate Article on Political Parties in recognition of the importance of political parties in the proposed parliamentary democracy.

In the committee and plenary meetings of the Consultative Commission, it was finally decided not to have a separate article on political parties. Instead, various provisions were adopted on the reform of political parties and the electoral system that would strengthen political parties as institutions of our constitutional democracy. These included key ideas proposed by the CMFP and submitted by the author.

Why do we say that reforming our political parties is basic to good governance in our constitutional democracy?

Parliamentary Government is also called “Party Government.”

Parliamentary Government is “party government” because of the pivotal role of political parties in parliamentary elections, governance, and public administration.

What is the status of our present political parties?

1. Our political parties are personal factions and alliances united mainly for elections and patronage.

In our present unitary-presidential system, most political parties are loose personal factions/organizations that exist mainly to elect their candidates and distribute patronage. They are organizations of politicians and have no mass membership.

2. They have no serious platform or program of government to offer the people.

They do not have a serious program of government to campaign for and to implement when they are in power.

3. They are largely undemocratic, undisciplined and opportunistic.

Their opportunistic members change parties for their personal convenience. They are not bound by party loyalty or democratic rules in selecting the party candidates and building party unity and cohesiveness.

4. They are not responsible and accountable to the people.

They are not responsible and accountable to the people for their performance in or out of office. And the people do not take seriously the statements and promises of party leaders.

What constitutional reforms of the Consultative Commission will strengthen our political parties and electoral system?

1. Above all the proposed shift from our old presidential government to a new parliamentary government.

In the proposed parliamentary government the majority party or coalition in the Parliament will elect the Prime Minister who is normally the leader of the majority party. This puts a premium on the strength and unity of each political party and its ability to put up good candidates and offer the people an attractive political platform or program of government.

Because the ruling majority party or coalition under the Prime Minister and the Cabinet exercises both legislative and executive powers, it assumes responsibility and accountability to the Parliament and the people for the success or failure of the Government.
Various provisions in the Revision of the 1987 Constitution proposed by the Consultative Commission will strengthen the political parties to assume their paramount role in the parliamentary government.

2. “Article XI. Constitutional Commissions. The Commission on Elections. Section (4). Accredit, after sufficient publication, political parties, organizations, or coalitions which, in addition to other requirements, must present their platform or program of government and assume party responsibilities and accountability in governance….”

3. The proposal in “Article VII. Parliament. Section 2 (2)” for the Parliament to select 30 percent of all its members through proportional representation of the political parties, or based on the voting strength of the political parties in the previous parliamentary election.

Again, this will give the political parties a great incentive to be united and disciplined, to put up good candidates, and offer a good program of government.

4. The proposal in “Section 12. Any elective official who leaves his party before the end of the term shall forfeit his seat.” And he will be replaced by his political party.

5. The proposal in “Section 9. Parliament shall, by law, (1) promote the development of a party system in which various interests and sectors in society shall be represented, including women, labor, the poor, peasants, indigenous peoples, persons with disability, and the youth; (2) encourage the development of two major political parties to ensure that a majority can assume responsibility and accountability in governance and (3) provide financial assistance to the political parties on the basis of their share of the votes cast for the political parties in the previous Parliamentary elections.

6. The proposal in “Section 10. Political parties shall observe fair, honest and democratic processes in the selection of their candidates. They shall ensure the integrity, loyalty, and discipline of their members and publicly account for the sources and use of their funds and for their assets.”

7. The proposal in “Section 11. The two dominant political parties shall be represented in the voters’ registration boards, boards of election inspectors, boards of canvassers, and similar bodies. Other political parties shall be entitled to appoint poll watchers in accordance with law.”

8. The proposal that voters shall vote for their candidates for elective office and for the political party of their choice.

9. The proposal that all members of Parliament and other elective officials shall have a term of five years without term limits.

10. The recommendation that Parliament shall enable absentee voters abroad and those with dual citizenship to vote for members of Parliament, as an amendment to the existing legislation.

10. Other proposals to strengthen the Commission on Elections.

So, what will happen to our political parties in the Parliamentary Government and autonomous territories and regions leading to a Federal Republic, as proposed by the Consultative Commission?

1. There will be a progressive transformation of our political parties.

By changing our political system to a federal-parliamentary system, we shall progressively transform our political parties into strong, stable, disciplined, program-oriented and accountable political organizations.

2. The majority party or coalition in Parliament will have a very important role in that body.

The political party or coalition of political parties that gets a majority of the seats in the Parliament will elect the Prime Minister and form the Cabinet and the Government.

3. The majority party or coalition will also have a very important role in the assembly of the autonomous territory or region which is the future State Assembly in the Federal Republic.

The political party or coalition of political parties that gets a majority of the seats in the assembly of the autonomous territory or region will elect its Governor and Vice-Governor, and form the Cabinet and Government at that level of government.

4. The bases of political party representation in Parliament and the Assembly is proposed.

Each political party shall be represented in the Parliament and in the Assembly according to the number of its candidates elected in the parliamentary or assembly elections. The political parties shall get additional seats on the basis of “proportional representation” of the competing political parties in relation to their electoral votes in the previous election.

5. Electoral reforms will enable our people to vote not only for their candidates but also for the political party of their choice.

In electing the members of Parliament and the members of the Assembly, every voter shall vote not only for his/her candidates but also for his/her preferred political party in the Parliament and in the Assembly. The ballots shall provide for this.

6. Political parties will set the direction of government and compete for the support of their candidates and their party.

The political parties will compete with each other for the voters’ support of their candidates and their political party, in order to obtain more seats in the Parliament and the Assembly; because the majority party or coalition elects the Prime Minister in Parliament or the governor and vice-governor of the autonomous territory or region.

7. Voters’ will become conscious of the importance of political parties in governance and in their lives as citizens.

As the people vote for their leaders and for the political parties, they will gradually be more conscious of the important role of the political parties in the governance of the National Government and the autonomous territories and regions. The people can hold the ruling party responsible and accountable for the success or failure of its governance and exercise of power. Political parties will become more important in relation to individual politicians and personalities.

8. Political parties will mobilize more political participation.

Political parties shall be able to mobilize the participation of our citizens in the affairs of government at all levels. Not only in elections but also in making policies and decisions.

9. We shall be building responsible and accountable political parties.

Through our reformed political parties, we shall make the National Government, the government of the autonomous territory or region, and the local governments effectively responsible and accountable to the people for their conduct and performance in or out of office. Our people will become more informed, interested and involved in government and public affairs. Political parties will become more effective institutions in our constitutional democracy.