The Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM; ) is a

democratic socialist Democratic socialism is a left-wing political philosophy that supports political democracy and some form of a socially owned economy, with a particular emphasis on economic democracy, workplace democracy, and workers' self-management within ...

political party in the Philippines. Created in 2009, it includes as its affiliate the labor group Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino and is

Sanlakas Sanlakas is a party-list organization in the Philippines. It is a progressive coalition of different marginalized sectors in the Philippines founded on October 29, 1993. After topping the party-list tally in the National Capital Region, Sanlaka ...

' political party for purposes of contesting non-party-list elections. It is the umbrella group of various organizations such as

Zone One Tondo Organization Zone One Tondo Organization (ZOTO), also known as Samahan ng Mamamayan-ZOTO is a federation of urban poor community groups based in relocation sites and areas for demolition in the Philippines. Established in October 20, 1970, ZOTO is the oldest ...

(ZOTO) and Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng Maralita ng Lungsod (KPML). The party fielded Leodegario "Ka Leody" de Guzman as its

candidate A candidate, or nominee, is the prospective recipient of an award or honor, or a person seeking or being considered for some kind of position; for example: * to be elected to an office — in this case a candidate selection procedure occurs. * ...

for the 2022 presidential elections.

Political positions

PLM protested Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip during the Gaza War; a party member remarked that the airstrikes were "Israel's 'Final Solution' to the Palestine people." PLM remained neutral on the issue of postponing the 2011 elections in the

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao ( tl, Rehiyong Awtonomo ng Muslim Mindanao; ar, الحكم الذاتي الاقليمي لمسلمي مندناو ''Al-ḥukm adh-dhātī al-'iqlīmī li-muslimī Mindanāu''; abbreviated as ARMM) was ...

(ARMM), as a postponement only served to benefit the

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. __TOC__ Active liberal parties This is a li ...

, while holding the elections would've only promoted the status quo. Instead, the party "supports the continuation of the peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the MILF and any group fighting for self-determination in Mindanao." The party also disapproved of giving former president

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Maria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal Arroyo (, born April 5, 1947), often referred to by her initials GMA, is a Filipino academic and politician serving as one of the House Deputy Speakers since 2022, and previously from 2016 to 2017. She previously ...

any special treatment against her criminal cases. On the

impeachment of Renato Corona Renato Corona, the 23rd chief justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, was impeached on December 12, 2011. Corona was the third official, after former President Joseph Estrada in 2000 and Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez in March 2011, ...

, aside from agreeing that the Chief Justice should be impeached, the party said that members of the Supreme Court of the Philippines are to be selected democratically. As a democratic socialist party, PLM participates in the political processes of the state, insisting on

elections An election is a formal group decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold Public administration, public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative ...

as a legitimate and viable means of achieving

socialism Socialism is a left-wing Economic ideology, economic philosophy and Political movement, movement encompassing a range of economic systems characterized by the dominance of social ownership of the means of production as opposed to Private prop ...

. It opposes taking the extralegal route preferred and deemed necessary by Marxist–Leninist–Maoist national democrats. In the 2013 general election, the party supported Ricardo Penson's independent candidacy to the 2013 Senate election, as well as several candidates in local elections, including one candidate in the 2013 House of Representatives elections. For the 2022 general elections, the party fielded Ka Leody de Guzman for the Presidency,

Walden Bello Walden Flores Bello (born November 11, 1945) is a Filipino academic, environmentalist, and social activist who served as a member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines. He is an international adjunct professor at Binghamton Univers ...

for the vice presidency, and Luke Espiritu, Roy Cabonegro, and David D'Angelo for the Senate.

Radio program

PLM produces the weekly radio program ''RADYO LAKAS NG MASA'' (Radio Program of the Labouring Masses) on Radyo Inquirer DZIQ 990 every Saturday from 9–10 AM.

Electoral performance

For president

For vice president

Senate

House of Representatives

References

External links

Official website
{{Political parties in the Philippines Democratic socialist parties in Asia Social democratic parties in Asia Socialist parties in the Philippines Political parties established in 2009