Organs oppose EU remarks on Macao’s Legislative Assembly election
Published: Aug 01, 2021 02:12 PM
A flag-raising ceremony marking the 21st anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland is held at the Golden Lotus Square in Macao, south China, Dec. 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka)

A flag-raising ceremony marking the 21st anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland is held at the Golden Lotus Square in Macao, south China, Dec. 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka)



The Macao special administrative region government, Chinese mission to the EU, and the Office of Commissioner of Chinese FM in Macao, have condemned EU's remarks concerning the upcoming Legislative Assembly Election, defending the ruling by the Court of Final Appeal.

"Legislative Assembly election is purely an internal affair of Macao, and no foreign institutions have the right to interfere in it," the Macao SAR government wrote in a statement published on Sunday. 

Earlier on Saturday, a spokesperson of the European External Action Service (EEAS) criticized the MSAR's decision to disqualify 21 candidates from running for the Legislative Assembly election in September, calling it a "detrimental step," and urging the election to be open. 

In response to the EEAS's remarks, the Macao SAR government said that the decision of the Electoral Affairs Commission for the Legislative Assembly Election to exclude some individuals from the upcoming election conforms to the Legislative Assembly Election Law. 

"The law enables the Electoral Affairs Commission to review candidate lists regarding each team intending to take part in the Legislative Assembly Election," a statement said. "The Electoral Affairs Commission's decision has been confirmed in a ruling by the Court of Final Appeal of the MSAR."

The spokesperson of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the MSAR also rebutted the EEAS's interference. 

The ruling of the Court of Final Appeal of the MSAR has implemented the fundamental principle of "patriots ruling Macao" and upheld the integrity of the election of the seventh term of the Macao Legislative Assembly, which is supported by all sectors of the Macao society, said the spokesperson on Saturday. 

"The disqualification of the candidates will in no way affect the right of Macao residents to vote and to be elected, nor will it affect the democracy and freedom enjoyed by Macao residents in accordance with the law." 

The Mission of China to the EU, on the same day, expressed strong opposition to the EEAS's remarks. "We are strongly dissatisfied with and firmly oppose the EEAS's statement, which is a serious violation of international law and the basic norms of international relations," said the spokesperson of the Mission of China to the EU. 

"We would like to tell the EU that, Chinese people do not accept any sort of 'preaching' by the EU countries, and attempts to interfere in the name of 'democracy and freedom' are doomed to fail," said the spokesperson. "We solemnly demand respect for China's sovereignty and that the EU immediately stop interfering in China's internal affairs.''

Global Times