Macau’s pro-democracy camp loses ground in vote marred by low turnoutAFP, HONG KONGMacau’s pro-democracy camp has lost further ground in the territory’s legislature, according to preliminary results yesterday from an election marred by low turnout and a ban on “disloyal” candidates. Authorities in Macau had disqualified 21 candidates — most of them from the pro-democracy camp — from Sunday’s election on national security grounds. Macau Chief Executive Ho lat-seng casts his ballot at a polling center during a legislative election in Macau on Sunday. The other 19 lawmakers include 12 indirectly chosen from professional sectors and seven appointed by Macau’s chief executive. The disqualification of pro-democracy candidates in Macau followed similar rulings in Hong Kong, where authorities have moved to crush dissent and the territory’s pro-democracy movement with a National Security Law and a radical electoral overhaul.

Source: Taipei Times September 13, 2021 15:56 UTC