links

Company news Arroyo calls for new system 2005-07-29 15:32:59 (has been browse 257 times) Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo shrugged off an impeachment complaint filed just before her state of the nation speech in Manila yesterday, not even directly mentioning the crisis as she called for an overhaul of the country's unstable democracy. 　　With opposition lawmakers boycotting the annual address and 25,000 protesters outside - facing a line of riot police and troops - Arroyo said Congress should quickly come up with constitutional amendments to end the US-style presidency and switch to a parliamentary form of government. 　　"Ours is a country divided," Arroyo said. She is under pressure to quit, with nearly five years left in her term, over allegations that she rigged last year's election. "One (side) is a Philippines whose economy ... is now poised for takeoff. The other ... has become a hindrance to progress. 　　"The system clearly needs fundamental change," she said. "And the sooner the better." 　　Changing to a parliamentary system - in which lawmakers can vote out a sitting government instead of resorting to "people power" revolts like those that have toppled two leaders since 1986 - could cut Arroyo's term short, since a successful referendum on the changes likely would be followed by fresh elections. 　　But it would give her a somewhat graceful way out of the mess that has paralyzed her government, and perhaps help end the massive people power street protests that may be turning into a tool for destabilizing governments. 　　Still, opponents noted that Arroyo gave no schedule for switching systems, and made no further mention of the "truth commission" that she said last week would look into the allegations against her. 　　Sticking to her business-as-usual strategy in dealing with her two-month-old political crisis, Arroyo touted her administration's accomplishments in generating 4 million jobs over the past four years, fighting drugs, curtailing kidnappings and easing a bloody Muslim separatist insurgency in the south.