On June 15, Macau government officials announced a planned change in local laws that will bar gaming concessionaires from supporting any prospective candidate for chief executive of the city.
At a press conference, Secretary for Administration and Justice Cheong Weng Chon said concessionaires must be neutral in the selection process to help ensure the fairness of the election.
“The gaming industry is the main economic pillar of Macau and the proportion of employees employed by concessionaires is very high in relation to the working population,” he said. “The government does not want concessionaires to be inclined to support one candidate and mobilize their employees to do so.
“The law on the election of the Legislative Assembly already provides for the neutrality of concessionaires, but the law on the election of the chief executive does not have this provision, and the government believes that … should also be changed.”
As reported by Inside Asian Gaming, Macau’s next chief executive will be chosen in 2024.
