Politics unchained: PacMan to run for Philippine president, Najib seeks return to Malaysian parliament
Philippine boxing legend-turned-politician Manny Pacquiao, nicknamed PacMan, declared on September 19 that he decided to run for president of the Philippine in the 2022 elections, ending months of speculation about whether he would seek the country’s top job.
“The time is now – we are ready to rise to the challenge of leadership,” said Pacquiao as he accepted the nomination by a rival faction in President Rodrigo Duterte’s ruling party.
The eight-division world champion and beloved national hero made the announcement weeks after losing what could have been his last professional fight, a bout with Cuban Yordenis Ugas in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao, who entered politics in 2010 as a congressman before being elected to the Senate, has long been expected to make a tilt for the country’s highest office.
The 42-year-old is deeply admired in the archipelago nation for his generosity and hauling himself out of poverty to become one of the world’s greatest and wealthiest boxers. His boxing credentials along with fighting poverty and corruption are likely to be the key themes of his campaign.
He, however, is at daggers with incumbent President Rodrigo Duterte over the latter’s handling of the South China Sea dispute with Beijing, among other issues including corruption, which could make things complicated because Duterte has just recently announced he would run for the vice-presidency, making a controversial duo Pacquiao-Duterte at the helm of the country imaginable.
Najib Razak says his political future was “subject to interpretation” of the law
Meanwhile, Malaysia’ former prime minister Najib Razak in an interview with Reuters has not ruled out seeking re-election to parliament within the next two years, even though a (not final) corruption conviction could block him from running.
Najib, who served as premier for nine years until 2018, was found guilty of corruption last year and sentenced to 12 years in jail over misappropriation of funds from now-defunct state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad. He has denied wrongdoing and has appealed the verdict.
The 68-year old is still a member of parliament but the constitution bars him from contesting elections unless he gets a pardon or a reprieve from the country’s monarch. However, he is said to have recently been offered a role as government economic advisor.
Personally, he is challenging his potential disqualification, saying it was “subject to interpretation of the law’ and what would happen in court proceedings.
Asked if he would contest the next elections due by 2023, he said that “any politician who would want to play a role would want a seat in parliament,” according to Reuters.
Philippine boxing legend-turned-politician Manny Pacquiao, nicknamed PacMan, declared on September 19 that he decided to run for president of the Philippine in the 2022 elections, ending months of speculation about whether he would seek the country's top job. "The time is now - we are ready to rise to the challenge of leadership," said Pacquiao as he accepted the nomination by a rival faction in President Rodrigo Duterte’s ruling party. The eight-division world champion and beloved national hero made the announcement weeks after losing what could have been his last professional fight, a bout with Cuban Yordenis Ugas in Las...
Philippine boxing legend-turned-politician Manny Pacquiao, nicknamed PacMan, declared on September 19 that he decided to run for president of the Philippine in the 2022 elections, ending months of speculation about whether he would seek the country’s top job.
“The time is now – we are ready to rise to the challenge of leadership,” said Pacquiao as he accepted the nomination by a rival faction in President Rodrigo Duterte’s ruling party.
The eight-division world champion and beloved national hero made the announcement weeks after losing what could have been his last professional fight, a bout with Cuban Yordenis Ugas in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao, who entered politics in 2010 as a congressman before being elected to the Senate, has long been expected to make a tilt for the country’s highest office.
The 42-year-old is deeply admired in the archipelago nation for his generosity and hauling himself out of poverty to become one of the world’s greatest and wealthiest boxers. His boxing credentials along with fighting poverty and corruption are likely to be the key themes of his campaign.
He, however, is at daggers with incumbent President Rodrigo Duterte over the latter’s handling of the South China Sea dispute with Beijing, among other issues including corruption, which could make things complicated because Duterte has just recently announced he would run for the vice-presidency, making a controversial duo Pacquiao-Duterte at the helm of the country imaginable.
Najib Razak says his political future was “subject to interpretation” of the law
Meanwhile, Malaysia’ former prime minister Najib Razak in an interview with Reuters has not ruled out seeking re-election to parliament within the next two years, even though a (not final) corruption conviction could block him from running.
Najib, who served as premier for nine years until 2018, was found guilty of corruption last year and sentenced to 12 years in jail over misappropriation of funds from now-defunct state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad. He has denied wrongdoing and has appealed the verdict.
The 68-year old is still a member of parliament but the constitution bars him from contesting elections unless he gets a pardon or a reprieve from the country’s monarch. However, he is said to have recently been offered a role as government economic advisor.
Personally, he is challenging his potential disqualification, saying it was “subject to interpretation of the law’ and what would happen in court proceedings.
Asked if he would contest the next elections due by 2023, he said that “any politician who would want to play a role would want a seat in parliament,” according to Reuters.
