Should Rodrigo Duterte be considered "center-left"?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

He is according to Wikipedia's party classifications, hilariously.

But what's sort of darkly amusing is that if you ignore his drug war and human rights record his policies actually are kind of in line what you would expect from a social democratic government, he greatly expanded access to publicly-funded birth control, has increased funding into public transportation, and passed a fairly robust stimulus package in response to Covid. Oh and he also supports gay marriage. Which obviously doesn't make up for "the other stuff" but does seem a bit incongruous with what you would expect since he's often seen as in the mold of Bolsonaro.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Imagine thinking Duterte's drug policies are enough to make him center-right.

[Silent Hunter]

Economically, maybe. But the rest, no.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

In the context of the Philippines, yes. Really, it wouldn't be completely crazy to compare him to Thaksin Shinawatra, who also indulged in hardcore anti drug moves. You have to understand, in countries where organised crime quite openly acts in tandem with business and the state, drug peddlers and such can easily be portrayed as agents of the hated elite by tubthumping politicians.

With Duterte, you have a man who is politically centred in a regional city with a powerful Communist movement that he, to some extent, seemed to coopt early on his career, which is why the Maoist movement cheered on his presidential ambitions. And even after turning his back on the Maoists, he still speaks in vague left terms even if he isn't really a man with a strong ideological root.

With that in mind, people who are amused by incoherent political ideologies will definitely be fascinated by 1Sambayan, the new anti-Duterte coalition sponsored by everyone from the jilted Maoists to far right military officials.

[It’s so Joever]

He is my inspiration.

[CumbrianLefty]

He is primarily a populist, which often (not always) involves taking some leftist positions.

[Santander]

He's a Santander Democrat.

[Zinneke]

Pass the pipe when you're done!

[Samof94]

In the context of the Philippines, yes. Really, it wouldn't be completely crazy to compare him to Thaksin Shinawatra, who also indulged in hardcore anti drug moves. You have to understand, in countries where organised crime quite openly acts in tandem with business and the state, drug peddlers and such can easily be portrayed as agents of the hated elite by tubthumping politicians.

With Duterte, you have a man who is politically centred in a regional city with a powerful Communist movement that he, to some extent, seemed to coopt early on his career, which is why the Maoist movement cheered on his presidential ambitions. And even after turning his back on the Maoists, he still speaks in vague left terms even if he isn't really a man with a strong ideological root.

With that in mind, people who are amused by incoherent political ideologies will definitely be fascinated by 1Sambayan, the new anti-Duterte coalition sponsored by everyone from the jilted Maoists to far right military officials.

Thaksin also was opposed by people who hated him as a person.

[sting in the rafters]

Regardless he's very much an authoritarian.

[PSOL]

Fascism doesn’t always have to be associated with having traditionally conservative leanings and old ways of politics nor is it identical between countries. Indeed the Ba’ath parties and SSNP are another examples of this, as are arguably many “Bonapartist” examples