Macau Parliament rejects EU “fundamental comments”

The EU document, released on Tuesday, “had unfounded comments” on Macao’s affairs, “such as the elections to the 8th Legislative Assembly,” said the parliament in a statement that still expresses “firm opposition” to European analysis.

In the report, the EU considers that in Macao 2025 “was marked by greater erosion of fundamental rights and freedoms that should be protected by at least 2049,” according to the Joint Sino-Portuguese Declaration signed in 1987, which stipulates that the social and economic system of Macao should remain unchanged for at least 50 years under the principle of “one country, two systems”.

In the 2025 legislation – the report continues – the Committee on Electoral Affairs disqualified 12 candidates for not upholding the Basic Law and not giving allegiance to the Macao Special Administrative Region (RAEM). In these elections, only 14 of the 33 Members are elected by direct suffrage.

AL now responds that legislation has been carried out “successfully, in accordance with the law and in a fair, impartial and honest environment”.

The electoral affairs committee “has taken the decision that some candidates do not meet the eligibility requirements in the exercise of the powers assigned to them by the Electoral Law, in accordance with the principle ‘Macau governed by patriots’,” the legislative body wrote.

As for the rights of Macao residents, “including the right to elect and be elected”, they are “fully safeguarded” by local legislation, the AL guaranteed.

The parliament of the semi-autonomous region urged the European bloc to respect the principles of international law and fundamental standards of international relations, as well as to “sustain interference in China’s internal affairs and in the affairs of the EMAR, and to promote the stable and healthy development of relations between both parties with concrete actions”.

On Wednesday, the Macau Government also rejected the content of the annual European report arguing that since the transfer of the administration to China in 1999, the territory has registered a “stable economic development”, a “continuous improvement of the democratic system” and progress in the consolidation of the rule of law, under the principle of “one country, two systems”.

On an official note, Sam Hou's executive Fai assured that residents enjoy the rights and freedoms of expression, press and meeting, highlighting “comprehensive progress in the area of human rights”.

Macau has therefore called for the end of the annual publication of the report, which has also qualified as an interference in the affairs of the country and the region.

On the same day, the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out that the European analysis “arbitrarily attacks the rule of law and the human rights situation in Macao”.

“ The fact that the vast majority of Macao residents can live and work in peace and satisfaction over the years is the most convincing proof of the human rights and freedoms situation in Macao,” he says.

“ A lie, even repeated a thousand times, remains a lie,” noted the commissioner, urging the EU “to acknowledge the facts, to take the right stance, to cease immediately its recurring political maneuvers and to stop interfering” in China’s internal affairs.

The EU document highlights the first arrest under the national security law of former Deputy Au Kam San, in addition to the closure of the independent All About Macau newspaper due to pressure.

Au Kam San, with Portuguese nationality, was arrested in July for alleged collusion with foreign forces and is currently awaiting the reading of the sentence.