Macau faces record low number of legislative candidates

The number of candidates for the direct election of the Legislative Assembly (AL) has decreased from 84 to 71 for the 14 directly elected seats, marking the first time since the handover that the total has fallen below 100, with candidate groups reduced from eight to six.

The Electoral Affairs Commission for the Legislative Assembly Election (CAEAL) has published the complete master list of confirmed candidates, detailing their full identifying particulars.

This announcement was made via a notice displayed in the ground-floor lobby of the Public Administration Building.

The indirect election comprises six lists of candidates, with 10 individuals assured of election. In addition, four candidates from the labor sector are competing for two indirectly elected seats.

The drawing of lots to establish the order of candidates on the ballot papers was successfully completed on Saturday morning.

The order of precedence for each sector in the eighth Legislative Assembly direct election is as follows: Group I is the Macau Institution of People’s Alliance, followed by Group II, New Hope; Group III, the Union for Promoting Progress; Group IV, the Macau-Guangdong Union; Group V, the Heart-to-Heart Concerted Society; and Group VI, the Alliance for a Happy Home. In the indirect labor sector, Group I is the Union for Development, and Group II is also the Union for Development.

This order will dictate not only the arrangement of candidate groups on the ballot paper but also the positioning of electioneering posters.

The AL election has entered the no-publicity period.

The president of CAEAL, Seng Ioi Man, reminded candidates once again on Saturday that conducting any form of electioneering publicity during this time is prohibited and constitutes an offense.

“The CAEAL hopes that everyone will support and cooperate with the commission and law enforcement agencies in maintaining order during the election,” he said.

The CAEAL advised that all electioneering activities must strictly adhere to the relevant provisions of the electoral law and its guidelines to ensure the fairness and integrity of the election process.

Meanwhile, the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) issued a warning that failing to declare non-electioneering welfare activities or neglecting the obligation to make such declarations may result in penalties.