Push back

RAYMUND FERNANDEZ

For the past year or so, we have been led by leaders who came to power on the back of the rightist, populist and fascist discourse. In many places all over the world, this particular discourse had been camouflaged against the backdrop of the disgruntled, the frustrated and the marginalized. The politics had been confused and confusing. A promise of “change” and from conservatives? How believable is that? And yet, as the rightist populist leaders now bungle their way through current global politics, we find the oppositions’ positions begin to clarify in the push back against the rightist populism. In France, centrist leader Emmanuel Macron won over the ultra-right candidate Marine Le Pen. In the US, we see the Republicans circling their wagons in defense of Trump. But some say it is only a matter of time before defenses crumble. In the Philippines, We are seeing what might be the final unmasking of the sitting president. The push back is palpable. The irony is that these world leaders have no one but themselves to blame for their troubles.

It is inevitable that rightist populism derives from a false premise of the invulnerability of the “strongman” leader. This and perhaps plain ignorance of how history works contribute to their troubles. Consider Trump admitting to the world in a broadcast interview that he was thinking of the FBI investigation of Russian meddling in the US elections when he fired FBI head James Comey. This admission could be interpreted as obstruction of justice. He did not know it, perhaps. But this led immediately to comparisons made between him and disgraced former US president Richard Nixon. The word “impeachment” finally entered into the running conversation.

Impeachment will become all the more likely the more Trump opens his mouth. And if we may have been incredulous that his campaign colluded with the Russians, now we cannot help but be certain. The only question is how much and to what extent. Or why would he behave the way he did and still does? The funny thing about this issue is this: If indeed his campaign colluded with the Russians, the people who have the most damning evidence of this are the Russians themselves. If Trump is guilty, then he is open to blackmail by them. And this may be happening already. Or why is he beginning to look so pathetic and helpless.

And if Trump promised to bring jobs back to America, then the best proof of this are the number of comedians who seem now to have become ever more famous at the expense of the alleged “most powerful man in the world,” the president of “America.” And it seems so possible now he will fall.

The worst part of this is that he and the promises he brought with him would be falling as one big ironic joke. To which joke quite a number of people will be saying: I told you so.

But the joke is one big unfunny one. Not just America and the Republicans but the world will pay the cost of Donald Trump. It will take quite a while to undo the damage he has already done. The rest of the world will pay a price as well. Not the least of whom are us, Filipinos.

Even as the world condemns extrajudicial killings in the Philippines, Duterte will be visiting the US. Trump will receive him. And Duterte’s agenda will continue here. And for now, no one can tell with certainty how far it will go. Gina Lopez’s appointment as DENR head did not pass the Commission on Appointments. She will now be replaced by someone who is most likely more inclined to serve the interests of the mining and logging industries. Bongbong Marcos’ election protest against Vice President Leni Robredo will now be going to the same Supreme Court which allowed the burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. What else is in store?

Despite claims of Duterte’s continuing popularity, the truth is that there is a rising undertone of doubt, a smell in the air, the stench of empty promises burning in the wind. The push back is here.