Fernando Chui Sai On is running uncontested for a second consecutive five-year term as Macau’s chief executive, the city’s top political post. Tuesday was the last day for potential candidates to submit their bids. The small-circle election is scheduled for August 31.
Besides Mr Chui, political activist Lei Kuong Un also submitted an application to stand for election. However, he failed to gain the support from any of the 400 members of the committee that will elect the chief executive.
For an application to be validated by the Electoral Affairs Committee for the Election of the Chief Executive, it needed to get the support of a minimum of 66 members. Mr Chui received nominations from 331 members. Mr Lei, who also failed to stand as a candidate in the 2009 election, can still appeal the decision.
First elected chief executive in 2009 – also running unopposed –, Mr Chui is now expected to remain in post until December 2019. When officially launching his re-election bid earlier this month, he announced a “relatively radical” change in government secretaries, but shared little about his policy proposals for the gaming sector.
Macau’s six casino concessions expire between 2020 and 2022. The government has signalled it will kick off the concession renewal process in 2015 or 2016.
