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Philippines's Duterte faces obstruction on key reforms

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Significance

Duterte last month registered the highest midterm popularity rating of any Philippine president in the last 30 years. The president emerged from May's midterm elections with an even more supportive Congress.

Impacts

  • Duterte's animosity towards Vice President Leni Robredo would be a source of instability if the president's health problems were to worsen.
  • There will be fighting within the pro-Duterte Congress and the Duterte family as aspiring candidates prepare for the 2022 presidential poll.
  • The strength of Duterte's political position, and the weakness of the opposition's, should soften any lame-duck period from 2021 onwards.

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