Duterte vs Marcos' brand of populism: How do they differ?
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 30) — The past six years and this year's transition to the new administration has so far proven that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and former President Rodrigo Duterte both share charismatic qualities that appeal to the masses.
But what makes the two chief executives different?
"If you look at Marcos, where he is going to be very different from Duterte is he's a traditionalist," political analyst Richard Heydarian told CNN Philippines on Thursday, a few hours before the inauguration of Marcos as the 17th President of the Philippines.
"The way he handles himself, the way he talks to heads of state, envoys and media, it's radically different from Duterte because Duterte was really the complete populist," Heydarian said.
READ: Back in Malacañang: Marcos Jr. sworn in as 17th president of the Philippines
Duterte won in 2016 with over 16 million votes, bringing to the presidency his image of authenticity and masculinity which he once carried in his years as the tough-talking mayor of Davao City.
Even throughout his term, Duterte "went against the basic decorum" which were previously unexpected from a head of the state, Heydarian said.
Many were quite entertained with Duterte's quips and unfiltered comments about various issues during his term. On many occasions, he showed that he was firm about his anti-drug campaign, even publicly telling the police not to hesitate to kill those involved in drugs when necessary.
But he also drew flak for his misogynistic remarks towards women. He even received backlash for kissing an overseas Filipino worker on the lips in the middle of a speech in South Korea — a move which Malacañang downplayed as an "act of endearment."
Marcos' brand of populism is different.
Heydarian said Marcos' "nostalgic populism" significantly mirrors how his late father Ferdinand E. Marcos presented himself to the public during his term.
"I was just listening to him, parang balagtasan (literary debate) eh. And the way he talks like his father, even the Filipino words he uses...he's very good in that kind of nostalgic populism," Heydarian said, citing a forum in the past which he and Marcos were both part of.
The political analyst said this is not mere coincidence, as even the venue of the younger Marcos' inauguration was the same place where his father delivered his fifth State of the Nation Address decades ago.
"The Marcoses love the nostalgic comparisons — the glory days of Manila when we were the Pearl of the Orient, the Paris of the East, and now we're back again and we're going to get there," he said. "Subliminally, I think that's going to be the message."
In his inaugural speech, Marcos promised to get things done, just like what his late father did during his term.
"I once knew a man who saw what little had been achieved since independence, in a land of people with the greatest potential for achievement, and yet they were poor," Marcos said.
"But he got it done. Sometimes, with the needed support, sometimes without," he added. "So will it be with his son. You will get no excuses from me."
He also repeated his call for "unity," rhetoric that won the hearts of 31 million Filipinos who voted for him in the May polls.
"You will not be disappointed, so do not be afraid," he said.
Marcos was sworn into the country's highest post on Thursday, successfully reclaiming Malacañang 36 years after his father was ousted by Filipinos in a peaceful revolt. Duterte's daughter, former Davao City mayor Sara Duterte, is also now the Vice President of the Philippines.
