Philippines: the son of ex-dictator Marcos wins the presidential election

Ferdinand Marcos Jr during his last campaign rally in Paranaque City on May 7, 2022. AP - Aaron Favila

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3 mins

Ferdinand Marcos Junior, son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, has largely won the presidential election in the Philippines, according to a first count given Tuesday morning which assures him a definitive lead over his closest rival.

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After counting more than 90% of the votes, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Junior, 64, won nearly 30 million, against less than half for candidate Leni Robredo.

Final certification of the vote should take several weeks.

It was enough for him, during this ballot in a single round, to be the one of the ten candidates who obtained the most votes to win.

In an address Tuesday at dawn from his campaign headquarters in Manila, "Bongbong", 64, refrained from proclaiming his victory, contenting himself with thanking his supporters for their months of " 

".

"

," he said.

Euphoric supporters

In the capital, his euphoric supporters were launching fireworks and roaming the streets waving Filipino flags.

About 67 million Filipinos were called to the polls for these general elections, during which the vice-president was also to be designated as well as the deputies, half of the senators, the provincial governors and thousands of other local elected officials.

Marcos Junior's triumph comes after an election campaign marked by torrents of disinformation and the unwavering support of

, whose popularity remains very high.

For years, pro-Marcos Junior accounts have invaded social networks, passing off to young Filipinos the twenty years of his father's regime (1965-1986) as a golden era of peace and prosperity for the Philippines.

And ignoring the tens of thousands of opponents arrested, tortured or killed, or even the billions of dollars stolen by the Marcos clan from the coffers of the country for their personal enrichment.

The return of the Marcos to power

The regime had been overthrown in 1986 by a huge popular revolt, and the Marcos family had gone into exile in the United States, before returning to the country to gradually rebuild a powerful network of political support.

Less than half a century after their fall, the Marcos will return to the presidential palace of Malacanang in Manila, from where "Bongbong" promised to restore "unity" to the country during his six-year term.

►Also read: General elections in the Philippines: a family affair

Marcos Jr had a rather lackluster election campaign, struggling to galvanize his supporters and drawing smaller crowds than his rival Leni Robredo.

But it has benefited from widespread Filipino dissatisfaction with successive democratic governments since the end of the dictatorship, which they say have been unable to improve their standard of living.

He also and above all owes his victory to a series of backstage negotiations with other political clans, and in particular to his alliance with Sarah Duterte, daughter of the outgoing president.

The latter also had a considerable lead in the election to the vice-president, which took place simultaneously.

(

AFP)

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