Marcos orders Cabinet to resign after midterm results

Analysts say polls outcome dents his political clout, weakens grip on power

- Mara Cepeda

Philippines Correspondent MANILA - Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has ordered the resignation of his entire Cabinet, just over a week after less than favorable midterm election results that analysts say weakened his grip on power.

"This is not business as usual," Mr Marcos said in a statement on May 22. "The people have spoken and they expect results — not politics, not excuses."

Though framed as a managerial reset, Mr Marcos' call for Cabinet resignations comes on the heels of the May 12 midterm polls, which signaled a realignment of political loyalties amid his deepening feud with Vice-President Sara Duterte.

Several of Mr Marcos' endorsed Senate candidates suffered defeats, while Duterte-aligned figures and independent opposition bets made surprise gains, highlighting fractures within the ruling coalition. The results also raised questions about his weakened mandate in his term, which ends in 2028.