Macau, China, 12 Jun – Chief Executive (CE) candidate Fernando Chui Sai On is likely to run alone after Public Prosecutor-General Ho Chiu Meng announced in an interview published by the Chinese-language Macau Daily News Thursday that he will not stand in next month’s CE election.
Ho Chiu Meng had been widely rumoured to be interested in running for Macau’s top job. A number of Internet surveys rank him as the most popular “candidate” for CE.
Secretary for Economy and Finance Francis Tam Pak Yuen, who was also widely seen as a “potential” candidate, indicated last month that he would not run for the job.
The nomination period for CE candidates ends on June 23.
A CE candidate must be endorsed by at least 50 members of the 300-head Chief Executive Election Committee to get the green light for his or her bid.
Informed sources have told The Macau Post Daily that Chui Sai On has already get over 250 endorsements (“nominations”).
According to a statement by Chui Sai On CE Candidacy Office, the ex-secretary for social secretary for social affairs and culture met with representatives from the sports, religious and education sectors on Tuesday to “listen to their opinions in order to improve his political manifesto.”
Chui Sai On had earlier met business and civic community representatives at the office.
The CE ballot is to be held on July 26.
The new CE will be sworn in on December 20, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR).
(MacauNews)
