Of the nine applications received for direct elections, eight were certified as valid, and one, from Ajuda Mútua Grassroots, denied certification due to unaddressed deficiencies.
The leader of a grassroots group, Wong Wai Man, has been detained for an alleged link to a recent police crackdown on an illegal mahjong operation.
Wong, head of a local construction bar-bender trade union, previously ran for the Assembly on behalf of the group in both 2017 and 2021, but could not participate in the 2021 election due to failing to secure the required 300 nominations.
A nomination panel is the body of backing — between 300 and 500 nominations— a list of candidates must secure as a prerequisite, and in Wong’s case he submitted over 300 to this year’s elections, but according to the EAC, the majority of them were signatures from ineligible voters, including some repeat signatures and identity mismatches.
During a press conference yesterday, Seng Ioi Man, Chairman of the EAC, stressed that any confirmed criminal activities would be met with zero tolerance. “We urge the Macau community, especially prospective candidates, to uphold electoral integrity and ensure a smooth election process,” he said.
For the indirect election, all six submitted applications were approved, representing various sectors, including the industrial, commercial, and labor sectors.
During a press conference yesterday, Seng Ioi Man, Chairman of the EAC, stressed that any confirmed criminal activities would be met with zero tolerance.
Under new rules introduced in 2024, all candidates must undergo a separate evaluation to determine whether they are patriotic enough. All candidates will be required to uphold the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution, and to pledge allegiance to the country and the special administrative region.
The EAC emphasized the principle of “patriots governing Macau” at the operational level, and urged voters, including legal-person voters, to engage actively with the EAC’s initiatives to maintain a lawful, fair, and transparent electoral environment.
“Active participation on election day is crucial,” Seng stated, highlighting the need to elect 14 directly-elected members and 12 indirectly-elected representatives who are committed to Macao’s prosperity.
Seng reminded certified committees to submit their candidate lists and platforms by June 26. Each candidate must sign a declaration supporting the Basic Law of the Macau and pledge allegiance to the SAR. A deposit of MOP25,000 is also required.
The EAC will verify candidates’ eligibility and adherence to legal requirements, while the Committee for Safeguarding National Security will assess candidates’ loyalty to the Basic Law. Final candidate lists will be announced by July 15.
For the indirectly-elected seats, eligible legal-person voters can submit a list of up to 22 individuals to vote on their behalf, with a submission deadline of July 7.
Seng also noted that approximately 7,500 voters updated their registration addresses between January and May of this year, surpassing the total updates from the previous three years. Polling stations will be assigned based on addresses registered as of May 31, and the EAC expressed gratitude to the public for their cooperation.
