EDITORIAL - Dwindling pools of political talent

This has probably never happened before, this seeming failure of political parties, whether national or local, to fill up their official slates this late in the day. The filing of certificates of candidacy for the 2016 elections is just a matter of only a few weeks away but it appears very few parties, if at all, have sewn up complete lineups.

This is rather odd considering that, from experience, it is almost like the other way around - too many prospective candidates jockeying for seats in official party slates that never seem enough to accommodate all of them. Is it because the number of people interested in running for elective positions is dwindling? Or is it because political parties are having a tough time making their choices?

This in turn calls up a number of other questions to the fore, the most disconcerting being - could it be that parties are having a hard time choosing because its standards for qualification are not being met? Over the years, there has been a marked nosedive in the standards required for public office, with the leadership of the current government being a glaring case in point.

If political parties can only have their way, the earlier they can come up with complete slates, the greater mileage they can gain. They do not have to launch campaigns yet, in deference to election regulations. But the mere disclosure of complete lineups already serve up unquantifiable gains just be instigating discussions on the personalities so named.

Publicizing complete slates early helps in familiarizing names, acclimatizing the public so to speak. Names will be pitted against names across the parties. The parties themselves will be cross-referenced by the names with which their respective political fates hang in the balance. Coming out with complete slates early allows early campaigning without really campaigning.

And yet only very few parties, if at all, have made known their complete lineups. And it is not because they do not want to. Complete lineups are not cards to keep close to the chest. They are supposed to be badges of pride to be shown off. They allow parties the bragging rights with which to attract voters or even to just stir up interest.

Only few parties have made known their slates this late in the game because they apparently are having a hard time filling up the slates. The pool of talent is seemingly having a hard time getting the edge wet. This difficulty in manpower build-up does not augur well for a country that puts a premium on political leadership to constantly lead the way. A dearth of leaders means a dearth of good leaders. A dearth of good leaders can easily lead to a scattering of confused followers.