The political hustle never really stops. There might be breaks, lulls and unspoken truces in between but at some point the scheming must resume because power does not come unearned, and rarely ever without sacrifices being made.

With the concluded elections out of the way, the first day of office really is nothing more than the launch of your first day of campaigning. The midterm polls are always special because the next national election is going to be a presidential election.

If it does not play its cards right, the current administration is on its way to becoming a lame duck. Given the lack of political pull and a failure to demonstrate a strong anointing power in the midterms, it is highly unlikely that the endorsement of President BongBong Marcos Jr. will carry weight as to who will be the next president. Nonetheless, the Marcos administration could still, in the next two years, help make or break any potential candidate for president depending on how it plays its cards.

For now, all eyes are on the leadership of both houses of Congress. Rumor has it Senate President Chiz Escudero has managed to get the majority (and the Palace) on his side to maintain his grip on the Senate presidency. Meanwhile, the grapevine has been abuzz with speculation on whether or not presidential cousin and representative of the 1st District of Leyte, Martin Romualdez, will stay on as Speaker of the House.

Despite statements and assurances from known stalwarts in Congress that more than a majority have signified their support for the Leyte congressman (not much different from the statements from Villanueva and Tulfo about majority of the senators supporting Escudero, but interestingly) many still place a cloud of doubt on Martin Romualdez being reelected as speaker, saying he no longer has the trust and support of the Palace.

That being the case, the 28th of July will not be much looked forward to because of the 4th State of the Nation Address to be delivered by the President in the hallowed halls of the Batasan Pambansa. All that will be in everyone’s mind that day, and the days leading toward it, is the race for the speakership. After all he who holds the gold, wields the power.

If PBBM’s endorsement did not amount to much in the midterm elections based on the dismal performance of the Bagong Alyansa Senate slate, what puzzles me is how the Palace’s sentiments could now matter when it comes to who will sit as speaker. What leverage could the Palace have to command a vote in favor of their anointed speaker?

To my mind, the congressmen will vote according to who will best serve their (and hopefully, their constituents’) interests. Let’s not forget about political favors exchanged and owed from the last term.

If the Palace has another horse in the race they better make sure their anointed one wins because if Martin is reelected as speaker, it will only confirm that Marcos Jr. is a lame duck president with no significant influence or endorsement power going into 2028 presidential elections.

So, whoever it is, the Palace better bet on a sure winner rather than risk another humiliating defeat so soon after the Bagong Alyansa fiasco last May.