Politics Ledger · Asia-Pacific
Philippines
Electoral autocracyPresidential republicUnitary
LightDark
In charge
Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
President
Time in power
4.3 yrs
since 2022
Government seats
68%
majority
Next national vote
2028-05
General (presidential)
Governance score
45/100
composite of five indices
Colonised by Spain and the United States, the Philippines built Asia's first republic and an American-style presidency. Politics oscillates between dynastic elites, People Power movements and strongman populism.
Leadership
Who Governs Philippines
Head of state
Holds executive powerFerdinand Marcos Jr.
President · Partido Federal ng Pilipinas
Since 30 June 2022 · 4.3 years
Age 69 (born 1957)ManRoute to power: won a popular election
Ruling coalition
Pro-Marcos alliance led by Lakas-CMD in the House
Main opposition
Duterte camp (PDP), with Vice President Sara Duterte facing impeachment
Last national election
12 May 2025
Midterm
Duterte-aligned senators outperformed; liberal opposition revived.
Next national election
8 May 2028
General (presidential)
Rodrigo Duterte is in ICC custody; the Senate impeachment trial of Sara Duterte resumes 9 November 2026.
Parliament
House of Representatives
Seat distribution (20th Congress, elected May 2025 (approximate)), ordered from economic left to right.
| Party | Ideology | Seats | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakas-CMD (LAKAS) | Conservatism | 104 | governing |
| Party-list representatives (PL) | Sectoral | 63 | confidence |
| National Unity Party (NUP) | Centre-right | 33 | coalition |
| Others (incl. PDP) (OTH) | Various | 33 | opposition |
| Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) | Conservatism | 31 | coalition |
| Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) | Federalism | 25 | coalition |
| Nacionalista Party (NP) | Conservatism | 22 | coalition |
| Liberal Party (LP) | Liberalism | 6 | opposition |
Ideology
Party Landscape
Each party placed on economic and social axes, sized by seats.
Institutions
The System
- Official name
- Republic of the Philippines
- Capital
- Manila
- Population
- 116 million
- Statehood
- Independence 1946 (declared 1898); Constitution 1987
- System
- Presidential republic
- Structure
- Unitary
- Current constitution
- 1987
- Legislature
- Congress
- Lower / sole chamber
- House of Representatives (317 seats)
- Upper chamber
- Senate (24)
- Electoral system
- Plurality presidential vote; district seats plus 20% party-list seats.
- Term limits
- President: a single six-year term.
Sources
- House of Representatives
- COMELEC
- EIU Democracy Index 2024; Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2025; RSF World Press Freedom Index 2025; Transparency International CPI 2024; IPU Parline, 2026; V-Dem v15 Liberal Democracy Index (approximate five-year readings)
Last verified 2026-10-29. Party placements are editorial estimates.
Data as of 2026-10-29.