Rear Window | Conflicts of interest

Severo Portela

Once again, veteran lawmaker Pereira Coutinho is running for a directly elected seat in the Legislative Assembly (AL), heading the New Hope list, better known by the Portuguese designation “Nova Esperança”. Seasoned by a successful 12 years as the so-called Portuguese voice in the Legislative House, Coutinho is more than ready to fight for each and every vote New Hope may earn in a gloomy political environment.

Demographic numbers and unsuccessful attempts of the (local) Portuguese to elect a representative, give quantitative proof that it is not possible to hold New Hope up as that cliché of the Portuguese voice, albeit Coutinho is the directly elected Portuguese legislator in the Legislative Assembly.

The Nova Esperança influence goes beyond the Portuguese niche as it anchors itself in the labour organization, ATFPM Civil Servants Association, and beyond that in the pro-trade union agenda Coutinho has relentlessly been trying to table over the last 12 years.

However, what we simply described as a gloomier electoral environment is blowing out the hope in the Nova Esperança headquarters, to the point Coutinho is despondent, not only about the chance to elect his running mate (Leong Veng Chai) but also regarding the odds of keeping his bench at the AL.  Speaking to Macau Daily Times, Pereira Coutinho points his finger to the high number of lists contesting in the September 17 legislative elections leading to dilution of ballots and making it harder to elect even one lawmaker. Even if this is pure modified Hondt electoral arithmetic, we suggest it as a qualitative argument hanging over every list or split list: we await the electoral verdicts.

The quantitative easing argument New Hope, or rather Pereira Coutinho, did not hold back from, has to do with what is described as interference – alternatively a “lack of fairness” – from China’s Liaison Office. According to PC, a dinner that the office organized had one of the candidates (Jorge Valente) address the community on behalf of the local Portuguese-speaking segment, even though the leader of the expatriate Portuguese-speaking community also attended: siphoning the Portuguese-speaking votes that Nova Esperança needs to keep Coutinho in the AL?!

The fact that neither Coutinho, nor New Hope trustee Rita Santos were invited to a dinner was stated by CAEAL chief, judge Tong Hio Tong as not being in violation of the Electoral Law. He did clarify that the law does not ban dinners, and such like. We presume this statement also presupposed the law will not allow patrons to engage in inappropriate electoral behavior.

On a lighter note, if the electoral law on campaign activities is so imprecise, or fuzzy, to say the least, a wise observer might recommend silent dinners, or  a brunch of “meaningful sounds” (Hegel).

Perhaps to augment, Judge Tong, reiterated that CAEAL will watch closely for (unlawful?) pre-campaign activities. It is good to know he is watching, since he acknowledged that civil society is concerned about such activities. But we have to bear in mind that any alleged irregularities during the pre-campaign period and mode would be dealt only after CAEAL formally announces the officially lists to the September 17 elections.

P.S.: Regarding the outcome of the elections, despite not knowing the final standing lists, Pereira Coutinho will retain his seat – to the credit and prestige of the AL and the system.