Press conference for the public consultation on the revisions to the Legislative Assembly Election Law.
The Government is launching tomorrow a 30-day public consultation on revisions to the Legislative Assembly Election Law. The consultation period lasts until 5 June inclusive. The revisions to the Legislative Assembly Election Law aimed to ensure the maintenance of a just, fair and open environment for elections to that body, the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Chan Hoi Fan, said today at a press conference. Revisions include: efforts to define what is meant by promotional efforts associated with an electoral campaign and to regulate such promotional efforts; the introduction under the Law of a scheme to monitor campaign expenses; a strengthening of supervision on electoral activity, including on any electioneering done outside Macao; an update to the rules for candidacy; and the introduction of a ban on elected members of the Legislative Assembly holding any political position in a foreign country. The proposed revision of the Legislative Assembly Election Law also covers enhanced management of electoral affairs, including: the appointment of the members of the relevant Electoral Affairs Commission well in advance of each election; an invitation to members of the Public Prosecutions Office to join the commission; a clarification of appeal mechanisms relating to decisions that affect campaign teams; the appointment of a body to handle minor cases of rule infringement; and the imposition of regulations regarding campaign advertising in newspapers and on websites. The suggested revisions were based on the Government’s observation of the fifth Legislative Assembly Election; the findings of a report on the election; and suggestions from the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) and the Public Prosecutions Office, said the Secretary. Parts of the proposed revisions – such as introduction of the concept of criminal responsibility for infringement of provisions in the Legislative Assembly Election Law – were in line with the United Nations Convention against Corruption, said the CCAC’s Assistant Commissioner, Mr Lam Chi Long, during today’s press conference. A full version of the revisions to the Legislative Assembly Election Law – written in Chinese and Portuguese – will be available from Saturday (7 May) at www.elections.gov.mo Members of the public are welcome to contribute their opinions before the end of 5 June to the website www.elections.gov.mo; or by post to: Rua do Campo, nº 162, Edifício “Administração Pública”; or by telephone on +853 8866 8866; or by fax to +853 8987 0011 or +853 8987 0022. If members of the public prefer not to disclose – in any form – their personal information, they should state such intention in their written opinion.