2017 Macanese legislative election

The 2017 Macanese general election took place on 17 September 2017 according to the provisions of the Basic Law of Macau.[1] Out of a total of 33 seats, 14 were directly elected by universal suffrage under the highest averages method, while 12 were voted on from the Functional constituency, and 7 from nomination by the Chief Executive.[1]

2017 Macanese legislative election

17 September 2017

33 seats in the Legislative Assembly
17 seats to have a majority
  Majority party Minority party Third party
 
Candidate Si Ka Lon António Ng Mak Soi Kun
Leader Si Ka Lon Andrew Cheong Ian Soi Kun
Party ACUM ANM UGM
Alliance Pro-Beijing
2 lists (ACUM+ACDM)
Pro-democracy
2 lists (APMD+ANPM)
Pro-Beijing
Leader's seat Macau (Direct) Macau (Direct) Macau (Direct)
Last election 3 seats, 18.02% 2 seats, 15.73% 2 seats, 11.09%
Seats won 2 2 2
Seat change 1
Popular vote 24,976 19,291 17,207
Percentage 14.47% 11.18% 9.97%

  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Candidate José Pereira Coutinho Ho Ion Sang Au Kam San
Leader José Pereira Coutinho Ho Ion Sang Au Kam San
Party NE UPP ANMD
Alliance Pro-democracy Pro-Beijing Pro-democracy
Leader's seat Macau (Direct) Macau (Direct) Macau (Direct)
Last election 2 seats, 8.96% 2 seats, 10.80% new
Seats won 1 2 1
Seat change 1 1
Popular vote 14,383 21,836 11,380
Percentage 8.33% 12.65% 6.59%

President before election

Ho Iat Seng
OMKC

Elected President

Chui Sai Cheong
OMKY

Background

Formerly a Portuguese colony, Macau has been a Special Administrative Region within China since 1999.[2] As a Special Administrative Region it is entitled to a high degree of autonomy from the mainland Chinese legal system through the year 2050, although China represents the city on foreign policy matters.[2] Macau's economy is based primarily on its status as a tech and financial sector, as well as its internationally famous casino industry.[2]

The previous legislative election took place in 2013. The pro-establishment camp ACUM, led by Chan Meng Kam, received 18.02% votes with 3 seats, and the next largest party, the pro-democracy camp ANMD+APMD, led by António Ng, received 15.73% of the votes with 2 seats while the pro-establishment camp UGM received 11.09% with 2 seats. Due to the characteristics of the Macanese election system, only 14 members are directly elected. On 10 July 2017 twenty-five parties have submitted their nominations for the direct election including current incumbents (Ho Ion Sang, António Ng Kuok Cheong, José Pereira Coutinho, Leong Veng Chai, Song Pek Kei, Si Ka Lon, Wong Kit Cheng, Au Kam San, Angela Leong On Kei, Lei Cheng I, Melinda Chan Mei Yi, Zheng Anting, Mak Soi Kun) and new candidates.[3]

Macanese Election Laws

Macau's direct electoral system is based around proportional representation, with elections carried out through a closed party-list balloting system.[4] This means that each geographic electoral district has multiple members, with the number of its seats filled by each competing party determined by the proportion of the vote that party receives. Parties nominate a slate of candidates (generally, one per seat in each district where the party is competing). After the election, party leaders decide who from the slate will fill the party's legislative seats.

Shortly before usual campaign period for the 2013 elections, the Electoral Affairs Commission of Macau banned the use of commercial advertising by election candidates.[5] The new election rules stipulate that candidates should not carry out activities that could influence voters in the two-month period between their registration and the start of the campaign period on August 31. Commercial advertising is barred from most public areas, except those specially designated by the government.[5] Even in areas where campaigning is permitted, it is still limited to a 14-day official campaign period.[6] These restrictions are intended to limit the advertising advantage of wealthy business interests. However, they have been criticized for limiting the amount of canvassing candidates with less money can do, thus encouraging clientelistic bloc voting where parties simply strike deals with associations, business interests and community leaders to turn out assured votes in their favor.[6] Working around the rules, candidates resorted to using loudspeakers to promote their campaigns.[5]

Among the most powerful special interests in Macau are casinos. Macau's casino industry has a long history of Triad and other organized crime connections. Since laws around casinos were liberalized in 2002 to promote more foreign investment, the Triad has lost its stranglehold on Macau's casino industry (although it remains deeply embedded in it).[7] Casinos have long played a major role in clientelistic politics in Macau, and since liberalization their influence has further increased.[7][8]

Ballot and Results

 Summary of the 17 September 2017 Legislative Assembly of Macau election results[9]
Political affiliation
Popular votes
% of Votes
Change in
% of vote
Seats
Net change
in seats
Pro-Beijing camp
20Macau-Guangdong Union (UMG) 17,2149.971.122
16Union for Development (UPD) 16,6969.671.5021
9Macau United Citizens' Association (ACUM) - List 1 14,8798.629.4012
2Progress Promotion Union (UPP) - List 1 12,3407.153.6511
14New Macau Development Union (NUDM) 10,4526.052.891
8Macau Citizens’ Development Association (ACDM) - ACUM List 2 10,1035.85N/A11
11Alliance for a Happy Home (ABL) - UPP List 2 9,4965.50N/A11
18Alliance for Change (Mudar) 8,1864.741.2401
Pro-democracy camp
6New Hope (NE) 14,3868.330.6311
13New Democratic Macau Association (ANMD) 11,3816.590.561
3Democratic Prosperous Macau Association (APMD) - ANM List 1 10,0805.841.661
7New Macau Progressives (ANPM) - ANM List 2 9,2135.34N/A11
19United Citizens for Building Macau Association (ACUCM) 9040.52N/A0
23Association of Macau Activism for Democracy (ID) 2790.16 0.470
1New Ideals of Macau (NIM) 1990.12N/A0
Centrists
4Civic Watch (Cívico) 9,5905.561.9911
No legislative representation
15Synergy Power (PS) 7,1624.15N/A0
25Front Line of Casino Workers (LFTC) 3,1261.81N/A0
24Pearl Horizon Buyers’ Rights Defence Union (UPHDD) 2,3991.39N/A0
22Mutual Help Grassroots (Grassroots) 1,3500.78N/A0
12Citizens’ Power (PC) 1,3050.76N/A0
21The Aurora of Grassroots (Aurora) 8230.48N/A0
10Powers of Political Thought (PPP) 6720.39N/A0
17Ou Mun Kong I (OMKI) 3930.23N/A0
Withdrew
5Pink Love Citizens (Rosa)
Total and Turnout174,87210014
Valid votes172,62898.72
Invalid votes1,3000.74
Blank votes9440.54
Eligible voters305,61557.22
Functional constituencies and appointed members
Macau Union of Employers Interests (OMKC) 7814
Federation of Employees Associations (CCCAE) 1,0122
1Macau Union of Medical Professional Interests (UIMM) 20537.55N/A11
2Macau Union of Professional Interests (OMCY) 34162.4537.5521
Association for Promotion of Social Services and Education (APSSE) 1,5591
Excellent Culture and Sport Union (União Excelente) 1,4992
Members appointed by the Chief Executive 7

See also

References

  1. Fraser, Niall. "Macau votes for new legislature in 'most hotly contested polls' in years". SCMP. South China Morning Post. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  2. Sit, Victor F.S.; Hui, Vivian; Leung, Gladys (2012). Macau Through 500 Years. Enrich Professional Publishing.
  3. "Apresentação das candidaturas:". Eleições para a Assembleia Legislativa da RAEM. Government of Macau. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  4. "IFES Election Guide | Elections: Macau Parl Sept 2013". www.electionguide.org. Retrieved 2017-04-07.
  5. "Macau holds low-profile election". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2017-04-07.
  6. "Macau's strict election rules backfire". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2017-04-07.
  7. Lam, Newman M.K.; Scott, Ian (2011). Gaming, Governance and Public Policy in Macau. Hong Kong University Press.
  8. "World news explained - Casino boss Chan Meng Kam's party biggest winners in Macau elections". RFI. 2013-09-17. Retrieved 2017-04-07.
  9. "Resultado da Eleição dos Deputados à Assembleia Legislativa da Região Administrativa Especial de Macau por Sufrágio Directo e Indirecto" [Results of the legislative election of the Macau special administrative region by direct and indirect suffrage] (in Portuguese). Printing Bureau of Macau SAR government. 28 September 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
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