JDV urges CDI to endorse his 10 political principles for Asia

Speaker Jose de Venecia urged the 110-member Centrist Democrat International party worldwide to endorse the 10 political principles he has authored for Asia to achieve economic growth amid terrorist threats.

His principles delve into social, political, economic and inter-religious issues. De Venecia, who was elected recently as president of CDI Asia-Pacific, also wants to foster reconciliation and peace in conflict-stricken countries.

De Venecia and President Arroyo said the Philippines is a "centrist nation." They also said Lakas-CMD, of which they are president and chairperson, respectively, is a "centrist party" that will lead in establishing the CDI’s first regional foothold in Asia.

In a statement, the Pangasinan lawmaker said that once this is realized, the country’s dominant ruling political party "could pave the way for the emergence of a truly centrist transnational regional party."

De Venecia’s election as CDI Asia-Pacific’s founding president propelled him into a position where he can influence policy directions in a region that faces unprecedented economic development amid continuing threats of terrorism from religious extremists.

In the CDI Executive Committee meeting and later at the CDI Asia-Pacific conference, De Venecia explained his ten political principles as follows: Find common ground between capitalism and socialism; bring together forces of extremism and excessive fundamentalism with the enlightened moderates as an antidote to terrorism; reach out to forces of the extreme Left and extreme Right; bridge huge gaps between rich and poor; create the Asian middle class and ensure opportunities for all; reconcile the principles of politics and of religion; reconcile materialism and spiritualism; create a middle ground between a strong central government and the provinces and outer islands in the development of an eventual federal system; bring together the great religions, great civilizations and great cultures to avert a clash of religions and a clash of civilizations through interfaith dialogue among Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Confucians, Hindus and Jews; build strong family values and faith in a living God.

With these principles, De Venecia said he wants to "bring together the forces of extremism and excessive fundamentalism with the forces of enlightened moderation, create opportunities to build an Asian middle class, and find common ground between capitalism and socialism."

De Venecia’s declaration of his ten political principles, according to Parañaque Rep. Eduardo Zialcita, "inevitably gives the Speaker the aura and stature of a political philosopher."

Ten major political parties from eight nations signed the Manila Declaration Friday, binding themselves to the objectives of CDI Asia-Pacific at the opening rites witnessed by Mrs. Arroyo, former Belgian Prime Minister Wilfried Martens and other political leaders from Europe and Asia.

Pier Ferdinando Casini, head of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, took over as new CDI president, succeeding former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar. The transition may increase the centrists’ influence in Europe, Latin America, Africa and the Asia-Pacific.