Demócrata Party

The Demócrata Party (literally "Democratic Party") was a political party in early 20th century Philippines, when the Philippines was an insular territory of the United States. It functioned as an opposition party against the ruling Nacionalista Party.

Not to be confused with Centrist Democratic Party of the Philippines, Democratic Party (Philippines), or Democratic Party of the Philippines.

History

The Demócrata Party came from the remnants of the Progresista Party, which had been beaten by the Nacionalistas. Juan Sumulong founded the party in 1917, espousing "absolute and immediate independence".[1]

In the 1922 election, the Nacionalistas were split into two camps: Senate President Manuel L. Quezon pushed for collective leadership, calling Speaker Sergio Osmeña's leadership style as "unipersonal", a charge Osmeña denies. Thus, Quezon and his allies were the "Colectivistas", while Osmeña and his allies were the "Unipersonalistas". Osmeña decided to run in the Senate, directly challenging Quezon's authority. This led to the Nacionalistas losing their majority in the House of Representatives. The Demócratas, who had the balance of power, approached Osmeña of having their senators vote for him as Senate President, with the Unipersonalistas voting for the Demócrata's Claro M. Recto as speaker. Osmeña refused, reconciled with Quezon and merged the two nationalist camps into the Partido Nacionalista Consolidato (Nationalist Party, consolidated).[2]

By 1933, Quezon and Osmeña were again split, this time on the issue of the Hare–Hawes–Cutting Act. The Demócratas allied with Quezon and his allies, known as the "Antis", against Osmeña and his allies, who were for the law (the "Pros"). The Antis won, replacing it with the Tydings–McDuffie Act, whose provisions which Sumulong had pushed for as a Progresista.[1]

By the time of the 1935 election, the Demócratas have been subsumed into the Antis, and later the reunited Nacionalista Party. The Fuente Popular (Popular Front) shall function as the opposition to the Nacionalistas moving forward.

References
  1. "Juan Sumulong: Dreamer, not demagogue, September 17, 1938". The Philippines Free Press Online. 1938-09-17. Retrieved 2020-10-06.
  2. "Electoral Almanac 2nd edition: 1922 Legislative Elections | Presidential Museum and Library". Retrieved 2020-10-06.
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