156 Sundays 'til next elections
But nation needs break from politics -- Recto

This one's over but the next election, in the words of Sen. Ralph Recto, "is 156 Sundays away" which means that when the polls close tomorrow the campaign for the next one begins.

Actually, the official start of the presidential derby is 130 Sundays from now, as the convention of a party to choose its standard bearer is allowed six months before the May 2010 elections, Recto added.

"Unofficially, the race to 2010 begins on the morning after the elections," Recto added.

Recto said it's too early to tell who will stand for the presidency and the vice presidency in 2010 "but you can discern from their body language in the weeks to come ."

But it is not only those who would like to replace President Arroyo as head of state who would kneel at the starting line, "but the precept that your reelection campaign begins on the day of your election applies to all," he said.

"We are now in the era of perpetual campaigning. This is because there are 1,000 days between elections. We are captive of an imperfect political system that requires constant campaigning," he said.

Recto was, however, quick to point out that he does not practice the theory of the perpetual campaign." ou have to stop soliciting a mandate and start exercising it. If you do your job well the people will reward you with another mandate."

Recto said another "political contest" will be witnessed by the nation right after tomorrow's elections.

"The competition for the speakership of the House and the presidency of the Senate will heat up. This is 'Level 2' of the legislative elections. There will be jockeying for the coveted posts," he said.

Plum posts in local legislative councils will also be up for grabs, he said.

Recto predicted that "politics will not take a back seat if Charter change will be put on the front burner of the agenda of the 14th Congress."

"The things to do is fix the economy, focus on economic measures, pass the budget and fix kinks in the electoral system so the problems that visit us every elections since the Commonwealth days will be gone the next time around," he said.

"We must automate. The campaigning for office must take a rest. But the work to modernize our elections so ballot tallies will not be written in blood must go on non-stop because there are 156 Sundays left when precincts open again," he said.