Disqualified candidate group demands clarification from CAEAL on eligibility decision

The Legislative Assembly direct election saw all six candidates from the Macau Create People’s Livelihood Force, led by incumbent lawmaker Ron Lam, and the Synergy of Power, headed by newcomer Alberto Wong, disqualified for allegedly “not upholding the Basic Law and lacking loyalty to Macau.”

Yesterday, Wong requested a re-examination of his group’s eligibility from the Electoral Affairs Commission for the Legislative Assembly Election (CAEAL).

This marks the second instance of such disqualifications since the 2021 direct election, when 20 candidates from five non-establishment groups were barred from running in the legislative election.

In that election, all 15 candidates from three pro-democracy groups, including directly elected legislators António Ng and Sulu Sou, were also disqualified.

At a press conference on Tuesday, it was highlighted that all candidates from the two teams had been deemed by the Committee for Safeguarding National Security as “neither upholding the Basic Law nor bearing allegiance to the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR).”

Seng Io Man, the president of CAEAL, announced that the CAEAL “has made decisions of ineligibility regarding the aforementioned six candidates from the Macau Create People’s Livelihood Force and the six candidates from the Synergy of Macau Association in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Law for the Legislative Assembly.”

During the press conference, Seng faced questions about why the 12 individuals were labeled as “not upholding the Basic Law” or being loyal to the SAR, what specific crimes they were accused of, and why the National Security Committee’s review could not be made public.

In response, he asserted that the committee’s work and the review materials are “confidential” and cannot be disclosed due to national security concerns.

Upon their disqualification, the leaders of the two groups, Ron Lam and Alberto Wong, took to social media to apologize to their supporters.

They both noted that they had not received any prior notification from the CAEAL about the disqualification and had learned of the news through live news broadcasts.

Among them, Wong ended his statement by saying, “We have decided not to comment.”

Yesterday, Wong, acting as a representative of the list, submitted a letter to the CAEAL.

In the letter reviewed by the Times, he requested that the committee review the eligibility of the candidates on his group’s list and return the MOP25,000 deposit, despite the committee’s previous decision stating that no declaration of intent or judicial appeal could be filed.

In a letter to the Times and other media, where he recalls the content of the document submitted to CAEAL, Wong emphasized his commitment to the Basic Law of the Macau SAR.

He outlined three key points, referring to the legal basis for his assertions, that demonstrate how he and his group have consistently fulfilled their obligations of loyalty to Macau.

By doing so, he denied any accusations of failing to uphold these principles, essentially defending their integrity and dedication to the region’s legal framework and governance.

Wong stated, “As candidates committed to contributing to the development of Macau, we have always adhered to this clause as our code of conduct, actively putting it into practice in our daily lives and work, and have never violated it […] We actively participate in social affairs and spread positive messages, demonstrating our love and loyalty to Macau and our country through our actions,” in terms of the group’s social affairs participation, public statement, and background check and certificate of no violations of laws and regulations.

He also invoked the principle of “the right to know the reasons” under Article 48 of the Administrative Procedure Code, demanding that the National Security Committee provide a clear explanation of the specific factual basis and legal reasoning behind its determination that the candidates of his group “do not support” and “do not pledge allegiance.”

Lam, the leader of another group disqualified from running in the legislative election, reiterated to the Times yesterday, “I have nothing else to say at this time. I hope you understand.”

Elected to the legislature in 2021 with over 8,000 votes, Lam’s group, “Synergy of Power,” submitted 400 nominations for the upcoming election.

During a media interview on the sidelines of the submission of his group’s candidate list and manifesto to the CAEAL early last month, he reflected on his performance over the past four years, stating, “Personally, I believe I have done my best. If I have fallen short, I truly apologize to the voters.”

He emphasized his commitment by noting that he attended all Legislative Assembly sessions to express his opinions on bills.

“I believe everyone has witnessed our work over the past four years. We have certainly made our voices heard, but whether the government listens to these public opinions is not something I can control or influence […] I have done my best, and I have given it my all. However, to be honest, the results have not met my expectations, and this is my self-assessment. I also want to tell the voters: I truly apologize,” Lam remarked on his performance as a legislator in response to the Times’ question.

Lam pointed out that significant changes in the social environment over the years have led to the government’s failure to adequately heed public opinion. This has resulted in policies that do not align with the people’s needs or the demands of societal development.

At that time, he added that his campaign platform aimed to push the government to genuinely reduce existing subsidies for foreign companies and large corporations, thereby creating more opportunities for small- and medium-sized enterprises to thrive.