Commentary by Sun In
The upcoming election of Macao’s eighth Legislative Assembly will see for the first time the full implementation of the principle of patriots administering Macao in the Legislative Assembly election under the new electoral system.
In 2024, the Macao SAR amended its Legislative Assembly Election Law, enshrining in law what had been achieved in previous electoral practices. On the basis of improving electoral procedures, the amended law puts in place the qualification criteria and review mechanism to assess whether candidates uphold the MSAR Basic Law and bear allegiance to the MSAR, so as to guarantee that members of Macao’s Legislative Assembly truly love the country.
Compared with the electoral systems in the US and European countries, Macao’s new electoral system has its unique distinctive strengths. It is a good system that is in line with the One Country, Two Systems principle, fits in well with Macao’s realities, and upholds Macao’s long-term prosperity and stability.
First, it is a good system that reflects the original aspirations and fundamentals of the One Country, Two Systems principle, one that can ensure the implementation of patriots administering Macao by electing firm patriots.
Loving both the country and Macao is not only a basic requirement for but a political responsibility of Macao’s Legislative Assembly members.
In recent years, Western countries like the US and Spain have experienced more disturbing incidents in their elections. Even Portugal, a country that enjoys political stability, faces challenges in government formation and governance brought by the rapid increase in the number of seats held by the far-right political party in parliament.
Loving one’s own country and nation has always been the political ethics that people serving in politics should follow. The prerequisite of democracy is national stability. Only when national security and stability is upheld can democracy’s political value of the full protection of human rights be manifested. The purpose of Macao’s new electoral system is to exclude anti-China elements destabilizing Macao from the SAR’s governance structure, elect firm patriots and ensure the security of Macao’s political authority.
Second, it is a good system that focuses on the human rights system under the One Country, Two Systems principle and guarantees the effective exercise of Macao residents’ democratic rights.
Patriots administering Macao represents the most genuine democracy. The Basic Law of the Macao SAR grants Macao residents extensive democratic rights and freedoms. The degree of democracy Macao had under Portuguese rule cannot compare with that Macao enjoys after its return to the motherland.
Under the new electoral system, not meeting the criteria of “upholding the MSAR Basic Law and bearing allegiance to the MSAR” only cancels the qualification to run for election within a certain period of time, but does not deprive one of the right to vote. This does not affect the person’s voting participation or the exercise of the right to vote. Nor does it exclude the possibility of restoring the eligibility to be elected after a certain period of time, with reassessment by the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Macao SAR. In this way, residents’ right to vote and desire for running affairs of the Macao SAR are respected to the greatest extent.
Third, it is a good system that embodies the values of the One Country, Two Systems principle, suits Macao’s social and cultural realities, and avoids social division.
Rooted in China’s profound political and cultural heritage, the policy of One Country, Two Systems embodies the values of peace, inclusiveness, openness and sharing. Macao’s new electoral system is a specific manifestation of such values in the field of democracy. In contrast, confrontational campaigning is an important part of the electoral systems in the US and some other Western countries. For instance, recent US elections have all been carried out amidst political polarization and social division.
Macao does not need confrontational campaigning, still less can it afford to be subject to reckless moves. Love for the Chinese nation and love for Macao is the defining feature of Macao’s electoral system under the policy of One Country, Two Systems and harmony, stability and consultation represent the mainstay of the culture of Macao.
Rooted in such a defining feature, Macao’s new electoral system achieves the biggest synergy in steadfastly upholding national sovereignty, security and development interests and preserving the long-term prosperity and stability of the Macao SAR. Under the system, campaigning activities have been conducted in a more rational, equitable and orderly manner, contributing to Macao’s social harmony and stability.
And fourth, it is a good system that enhances governance under One Country, Two Systems and ensures Macao’s long-term prosperity and stability.
Democracy is a universally recognized political ideal and objective. That said, there is no fixed model of democracy; it manifests itself in many forms. To evaluate whether an electoral system is democratic, we should not just focus on how votes are cast, but to observe whether outstanding individuals can be elected to enhance governance, and whether the well-being of people can be advanced and tangible benefits delivered to the public.
Under the electoral systems in the US and some other Western countries, candidates tend to place voters’ immediate needs over long-term national and social interests when designing their election platforms or policies for the sake of winning votes. In some other countries or regions, applying American-style democracy only leads to a frequent occurrence of crimes and high unemployment and inflation. Bureaucratism stays the same and corruption persists. Economic development and good governance have not materialized, as people aspire to see.
