Outrage As Philippines' Arroyo Declares No Retirement

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Mr Lee
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So is she that powerful that no one can stop her from being in charge forever? November 30, 2009 (AFP) - Philippine President Gloria Arroyo announced Monday she would run for a seat in parliament next year, triggering immediate outrage from opponents who said she was making a brazen bid to stay in power.Citing her desire to continue in public service and the clamour of her supporters, Arroyo said she wanted to represent her home province of Pampanga in Congress after her term as president ends."After much contemplation I realised I am not ready to step down completely from public service," Arroyo, 62, said on government radio."I hope to be a champion for the poor and to work to uplift the economy... I will work for this from a position closer to the people."However, opponents said Arroyo, who is mandated by the constitution to step down as president next year, intended to enter parliament so she could retain immunity against potential corruption charges.They said it may also give Arroyo a platform to change the constitution so she could continue ruling the country as prime minister under a Westminster system of government, rather than the current US-style presidential model."If this was out of a desire to serve the people, it would be admirable," said former leader Joseph Estrada, who is seeking a second term as president in the May elections."But it is a brazen attempt to stay in power forever. This should be considered as a warning that the scheming by this regime will not end with this president's term in 2010."In the government radio interview, Arroyo sidestepped a question about whether she wanted to change the constitution and become the first prime minister of the Philippines in a similar move to Russia's Vladimir Putin."That situation is so hypothetical I won't even bother to speculate about it," she responded.Arroyo would be able to change the constitution only if her Lakas Kampi CMD coalition gained enough seats in both houses of parliament in the May elections.Even without changing the constitution, Arroyo's opponents worry she could destabilise the next president's rule if she became speaker of the lower house of parliament.Arroyo gave a more direct denial of accusations she wanted to enter parliament to retain immunity against graft charges that opponents have said they plan to file against her for alleged corrupt activities while president.Link to the whole story

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Mik
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I guess some people love working even though they are financially secure. Not me, I retired at the first opportunity..

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TheMason
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Look on the bright side....I'd rather have her run for Congress than declare martial law and refuse to give up the Presidency.

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