Macao’s electoral system is likely to change to ensure only patriots can stand for office, it has emerged.
The proposal is set out in the government’s second Five-Year Plan. It reads:
“Through the improvement of the electoral regime of the Macao Special Administrative Region, namely through the elaboration of positive and negative lists on the requirements of the oath of allegiance, the establishment of a mechanism for verification of qualification, among others, the exercise of the functions of MPs will be regulated, guaranteeing that the governing power of the MSAR remains firmly in the hands of patriots”.
The government also undertakes to “firmly safeguard the Central Government’s decision-making power over [Macao’s] political system, including the electoral system, by implementing the fundamental principle of ‘Macao governed by patriots’ unconditionally”.
Last September’s election significantly excluded the pro-democracy camp, after the Macao Court of Final Instance upheld the decision of the electoral commission that accused the pro-democrats of not upholding the Basic Law and of being “disloyal” to the territory.
