AT PRESENT, Millenials and Gen Zs combined account for over 56% of registered voters. As per data released by GMA News Research, 13 million of these voters are Gen Zs.
As new generations start to come in, so too do new values. No more is it enough for a politician to just be charming or handsome; now, what matters the most is your competence and credibility as a political candidate.
In particular, republicasia asked Gen Zs: What traits do you look for in the candidates that you vote for?
Here is what they answered.
- Has real advocacies and platforms.
It is no uncommon occurrence for politicians to make several promises during their campaign, and then later on, fulfill only a few of them, if they even choose to fulfill them at all.
As stated in an article from the University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg: “Politicians knowingly making promises during elections campaigns that are pie-in-the-sky should be investigated for undermining voters’ ability to make informed choices.”
They add that to knowingly make campaign promises that they know are false and achievable is a breach of ethics and honesty, undermining the credibility and legitimacy of the electoral system, as well as the trust citizens put in those that they vote for.
Nowadays, people are tired of all these empty promises and instead opt for candidates with realistic platforms and advocacies that can actually be accomplished within said candidate’s term.
- Has a good background/track record.
Back in 2022, Presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo Lacson asked voters not to fall for the promises of candidates, but to instead look at their track records, and he has a point.
Why, after all, focus on mere possibilities when you can take a look at reality?
Ask yourself: What has this candidate accomplished in their time in politics thus far? How have they helped people? What have they contributed to the country? How have they made the quality of life for Filipinos better? Do they have any history of graft, corruption, and the like?
The list goes on and on. No matter how much of a smooth talker a candidate may be, it’s important to do your research on every single one of them.
- Knows about proper economic management.
At present, the poverty incidence is slowly declining, and inflation rates are slowing down. During the next elections, Gen Zs are looking for candidates who will continue to lower these numbers.
As of 2023, the national poverty incidence among families was at 10.9%, with 2.99 million Filipino families who don’t have enough income to meet their basic needs, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
No matter the improvements that have been made so far, millions are still suffering, and a candidate who knows about proper economic management is much needed because right now, Filipinos are on the right track, but it’s still not enough.
To have someone with little knowledge enter politics – someone who could veer the country right off course – could be catastrophic, to say the least.
- Caters to the minorities.
As per Human Rights Watch, indigenous groups often face human rights violations by state security forces in the Phillippines, particularly in areas with mining and plantation interests.
While for many Filipinos, colonialization stopped years ago, those in indigenous communities continue to face marginalization, dispossession, and oppression.
Gen Zs, who are known in particular for their strong stances on political issues, are looking for candidates who will not only acknowledge but take care of the several minority groups in the Philippines who aren’t getting their basic needs met.
- Holds on to their principles.
People are sick and tired of the lies. Now, more than ever, Gen Zs are looking for candidates whose values align with theirs. More than that, they want candidates who have shown that they stick to these values, no matter how difficult doing so may be.
Take, for example, the negative response received by Samira Gotoc following her comments supporting Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s Drug war, as well as running in the same party as Isko Moreno, “Aksyon Demokratiko.”
Many viewed her to be wishy-washy as a result of this, with one user on Reddit speculating: “She needs political machinery hence she sucked it up with Isko. Seems like Leni decided to run too late so she took the risk of joining Isko’s slate rather than joining fundie Pacquiao or Duterte-enabler Lacson.”
While there is nothing proving this claim to be true, it goes to show that due to her actions not aligning with previous stances that she’s discussed publicly, such as advocating against Duterte’s drug war and fighting for women’s rights, people then felt that there was a misalignment with her values and her actions.
Every action matters, especially when you hope to become one of the leaders of an entire country.
