Marcos-Duterte battle in focus

Hostile ties: The midterms come after the collapse of what was an unstoppable alliance between the two families that delivered a landslide win for Marcos in 2022. — Reuters

Registration was underway in the Philippines for one of the world’s biggest midterm elections, headlined by what could be a bitter proxy battle between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and fiery predecessor Rodrigo Duterte.

The May 2025 election will be a litmus test of Marcos’ popularity and a chance to consolidate power and groom a successor, which the influential Duterte family has signalled it is determined to stop after an acrimonious falling out.