Political positions should not be ‘inherited’

Segundo Eclar Romero is right (“Transforming PH’s political landscape,” On The Move, 7/16/24).

The political landscape in the Philippines is stuck and needs a rebirth. Many parties only serve the interests of various families and nothing else. Parties should be truly independent and follow their preferred ideology and political orientation and not be the agents of certain individuals. Even if the party chairmanship changes, it should not be from one close family member to another, but a party member who has nothing to do with the family in question and can act independently.

Loyalty to a particular clan is not appropriate here. Quality is more important. The only thing that matters is loyalty to the political goals of the party in question; you have to commit to the goal, not to a family. Nothing should be “inherited” such as positions or functions; power must be distributed through decisions made by the party and its members.

Politics is not about inheriting a position but about working for it. Ideologies are not interchangeable like everyday underwear. They are an attitude that one stands by, that one believes in, that one defends because one is convinced of one’s point of view.

Anything else would be pure opportunism, namely always joining the changing majority, which would mean having no standpoint at all. In that case, it is better not to go into politics because you only harm the people.

Jürgen Schöfer Ph.D.,

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