Macau Chief Executive not elected by universal and equal election

The Chief Executive remains undemocratically selected. The incumbent Chief Executive did not reject the possibility of implementing “universal suffrage” but declined to take the initiative.[1] There was only one candidate qualified to run for Chief Executive in 2019. There has been no meaningful competition. As noted in the Committee’s previous concluding observations, Macau, China should outline a clear and comprehensive plan of action and set timelines for the transition to an electoral system based on universal and equal suffrage that will ensure enjoyment by all its citizens of the right to vote and to stand for election, in compliance with article 25 of the Covenant. [2]

The power to approve and implement universal suffrage is vested in the National People’s Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) of China[3]. Even if there were a plan to introduce “universal suffrage” to Macau, very likely, the NPCSC would impose terms no less restrictive than those already announced for Hong Kong in 2014. Those terms would effectively bar opposition candidates from standing in Chief Executive elections.

The Macau Research Group and the New Macau Association suggest the UN Human Rights Committee follow up on the same issue by asking Macau, China provide an update on the plan of transition to an electoral system based on universal and equal suffrage. We also suggest the Committee ask Macau, China to provide a timeline on the withdrawal of the reservation to article 25(b) of the Covenant.

This article is an excerpt from a human rights report on Macau jointly submitted by the Macau Research Group and the New Macau Association to the UN Human Rights Committee in 2020. See here for the full report.

[1] “獲任命澳門特首感壓力 賀一誠承諾落實競選政綱,” on.cc, 12 September 2019, https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/news/20190912/bkn-20190912093855216-0912_00822_001.html.

[2] CCPR/C/CHN-MAC/CO/1, para. 7.

[3] Basic Law, Annex I, art. 7.