Left coalition withdraws poll accreditation

MANILA - The leftist coalition Makabayan has withdrawn its application for accreditation as a national political party in the May 2010 polls.

Poll commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer said Makabayan has informed the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that it is no longer pursuing its application for accreditation.

The move apparently came after the group was informed that the “individual personalities” of the party-list groups within the coalition would cease to exist if they are registered as one political party.

Makabayan is composed of party-list groups Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Anak Pawis, Kabataan, and 3 other groups seeking party-list accreditation.

On Friday, Makabayan declared that it is fielding Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo and Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza in the senatorial race.

The coalition claims a membership of 3 million.

Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño said party leaders have agreed that there is no compelling need for the coalition to be accredited as a political party.

“It will still be a coalition (even without the Comelec accreditation). Makabayan can exist without the necessity of Comelec accreditation,” Casiño said.

Asked if the move was prompted by the possibility that party-list groups under the coalition would lose their individual personalities, Casiño said: “That is subject to debate.”

Makabayan and the LP

Meanwhile, Makabayan will have a last-ditch effort to coalesce with the Liberal Party (LP) next week.

Casiño said Makabayan leaders are meeting with LP standard-bearer Senator Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday to discuss a possible strategic alliance in the elections next  year.

The leftist coalition has been trying to forge an alliance with either the LP or the Nacionalista Party (NP) of Senator Manuel Villar. This will be the first time that the extreme left will be supporting a presidential candidate after the restoration of democracy in 1986. .

Villar submitted his “counter-proposal’ to Makabayan this week and Makabayan officials are now weighing whether his platform of government matches theirs.

Casiño said one of the conscientious issues in the negotiations with the NP camp is Villar’s commitment, or lack of it, in holding Mrs. Arroyo accountable for abuses during her administration.

Villar is not keen in making it a priority to go after Arroyo, although he stressed that he would not also stop efforts to prosecute her.

On the other hand, the Hacienda Luisita dispute would be the most ticklish point of negotiation with the LP camp.
 
Building coalitions between grassroots groups and traditional political parties has become a must in a multi-party election system. Part of the attraction is the ability of both sides to deliver negotiated votes.