Polite populism

Polite populism is a political phrase coined by Marcus Mietzner. It was also stated in The Harvard Gazette, and in an opinion article by Filipino political analyst Richard Heydarian.

Term

By early 2014, Marcus Mietzner used that term to Joko Widodo when he was the president.^[1]

In 2015, it was observed by The Harvard Gazette when then-Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley gave a speech with a populist theme, but also campaigning for "common-sense choices".^[2]

Heydarian also used the term on Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, as he considered Moreno as a populist. Yet he saw him as different to President Rodrigo Duterte, Moreno recounted his childhood and early life in poverty and did not attack opponents like Duterte.^[3]