Today, Arroyo remains in power despite rumors of a military revolt. She is be-
holden to her generals and a coalition of politicians whose loyalties have to
be constantly purchased through patronage. Rejected by the Manila elite, she
has carefully built alliances among provincial politicos. In 2006, as in 2005,
she showed remarkable survival skills, outwitting a fractious opposition and di-
viding the People Power constituency composed of the Manila middle class,
business people, politicized soldiers, and the influential bishops of the Roman
Catholic Church. In the past 20 years, this constituency had acted as the arbiter
of presidential power, mobilizing protests against chief executives whom it
deemed immoral or corrupt. No longer. The constituency is divided, the oppo-
sition to Arroyo headless, and the hopeful middle class that had marched on
the streets in 1986 and 2001, fatigued and disillusioned.
Today, Arroyo remains in power despite rumors of a military revolt. She is be-holden to her generals and a coalition of politicians whose loyalties have tobe constantly purchased through patronage. Rejected by the Manila elite, shehas carefully built alliances among provincial politicos. In 2006, as in 2005,she showed remarkable survival skills, outwitting a fractious opposition and di-viding the People Power constituency composed of the Manila middle class,business people, politicized soldiers, and the influential bishops of the RomanCatholic Church. In the past 20 years, this constituency had acted as the arbiterof presidential power, mobilizing protests against chief executives whom itdeemed immoral or corrupt. No longer. The constituency is divided, the oppo-sition to Arroyo headless, and the hopeful middle class that had marched onthe streets in 1986 and 2001, fatigued and disillusioned.
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