Alleba Politics

One of the most resounding suggestions that reverberate around the country is that of holding snap elections, if President Arroyo does resign. Apparently, the idea of Vice-President Noli de Castro frightens many Filipinos. Thus, a lot of people prefer the idea of snap elections. Furthermore, if it is indeed proven true that Pres. Arroyo cheated last elections then VP de Castro might have also cheated. Nonetheless, whether he cheated or not, is not an issue anymore. By association, he is tainted by Arroyo’s lack of judgment. Unless he strongly dissociates himself from Arroyo, there is little chance that he will become an effective independent-minded president, if Arroyo resigns.

Therefore, the logical step is to hold snap elections. Whether it will be peaceful and successful is not an issue anymore. Whether it will yield a president who is trully deserving is not an issue either. The greater and more pressing issue here is the protection of the integrity of the Philippine democracy and its processes. The argument that holding snap elections would only create instability is not valid. For us to gain credibility and stability as a people and as a nation, holding snap elections is the only logical solution. The argument that we are better off with Arroyo as president than anybody else is again invalid. The fact is, Arroyo might have never been elected as President, thus, she does not deserve to be so no matter how effective she might seem to be for some people. As a democratic nation, we take the risk of having an ineffective leader. As a free people, we have the power to elect whoever we think deserves to be elected as president no metter what our reasons might be, be it popularity, charisma, intelligence or competency.

Undeniably, we are a long way from having an effective government and true unselfish political leaders. And it would be delusional to think that snap elections will yield such. For the meantime, let us not be ambitious and unfoundedly idealistic. The least we can hope for is a snap election that will at least give credibility and stability to the mandate of whoever is elected as the next president of the country.

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