former dictator Marcos’ son is heading for a landslide presidential victory

Ferdinand Marcos Junior, son of the late dictator of the same name, is heading for a landslide presidential victory in the Philippines, according to initial unofficial results released on Monday (May 9). He is about to reinstall his family clan at the top of power 36 years after the fall of his father, overthrown by a popular revolt.

According to results covering almost half of the approximately 70,000 polling stations, compiled by local media from figures provided by the Electoral Commission, Marcos Junior, nicknamed “Bongbong”, obtained 15.3 million votes against only 7 .2 million for her main rival, outgoing Vice President Leni Robredo. If these results are confirmed, Marcos Junior will become the first president in the history of Philippine democracy to be elected with an absolute majority. It is enough for him, during this ballot in a single round, to be that of the ten candidates who obtains the most votes to win.

Polls had predicted a landslide victory for Marcos Junior, after an election campaign marked by torrents of misinformation. For years, pro-Marcos Junior accounts have invaded social media, portraying his father’s 20-year rule to young Filipinos 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 drawn by the Marcos clan from the coffers of the country for its personal enrichment.

Marcos Junior had a rather lackluster election campaign, struggling to galvanize his supporters and attracting smaller crowds than his rival Leni Robredo. But a series of behind-the-scenes dealings with other political clans seems to have been enough to bring him victory. And in particular his alliance with Sarah Duterte, daughter of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, on track to win the vice-presidential election, which took place separately on Monday.