BARMM Parliament Faces Coalition-Building Challenge After Hung Election

The newly elected parliament of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will need to focus on coalition-building, Senator Francis Pancratius “Kiko” N. Pangilinan said on Sunday. In a statement, Mr. Pangilinan explained that the region’s government has to be formed through coalition and sustained dialogue since it has no majority mandate. The first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections resulted in a hung parliament, with no single political party securing the 41 seats needed for a majority. The leading regional party-list Bangsamoro Federalist Party won 16 seats, followed by the United Bangsamoro Justice with 15 seats, the BARMM Grand Coalition with eight seats, and the Raayat Democratic with one seat. “The elected [p]arliament must choose a prime minister, organize its leadership, and form a majority to run the government that is rooted in peace, accountability, and service” Mr. Pangilinan said. He hopes that the parliament can “demonstrate that peace means more than the absence of war” by improving government support for BARMM’s farmers and fisherfolk, youth and women, indigenous peoples, workers, entrepreneurs, and families. Mr. Pangilinan emphasized that the “courage of communities who endured conflict,” peace agreements, and transitional institutions are the foundations of BARMM’s newly elected government. As such, cooperation between parties is vital to strengthening the region’s political stability. — Francessca S. Abalos