The successful eighth Legislative Assembly election of the Macao Special Administrative Region marked a milestone in the implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle in the SAR.

Sunday’s legislative election was the first held following the 2024 revision of the Macao Legislative Assembly Election Law, which introduced a candidate eligibility review mechanism. The vetting mechanism has effectively put the “patriots administering Macao” principle fully into practice, fulfilling the requirement of the Basic Law of the Macao SAR and ensuring the central authorities’ full jurisdiction over the SAR.

Judging from the outcome of the election, the vetting mechanism achieved its goal — barring any political subversive from entering the SAR’s governance structure through an election.

While the Macao SAR has maintained relatively stable and effective governance since its return to the motherland in 1999, the optimization of its election system by introducing a patriotism-vetting mechanism is prudent and necessary amid worsening global geopolitics. Only by putting the principle of “patriots administering Macao” into full practice and thus eradicating potential obstruction by Trojan horses can the SAR accelerate its integration into national development. Macao now stands at a critical juncture in its economic transformation. By accelerating its integration into national development strategies, Macao, a small economy, will gain access to ample resources and opportunities on the Chinese mainland and thus generate sustained momentum for growth. Only patriotic officeholders possess the aspiration, resolve, and competence to enthusiastically seek the point of convergence between “developing Macao” and “contributing to the nation”; properly handle Macao’s affairs related to the mainland; and become a source of positive energy for local and national development.

Furthermore, by ensuring a patriots-only legislature, livelihood issues can be better addressed and social harmony can be further enhanced. When Macao’s lawmakers and the SAR government effectively align their objectives and work together for the welfare of residents, both the executive and legislative branches will enhance their efficiency, leading to improved public services for residents.

The legislative-election process proceeded according to the law and under an orderly and healthy atmosphere, displaying a high standard of democratic practice. During the campaign period, all candidate teams competed fairly — appealing to voters with policy platforms, refraining from making unrealistic promises, and avoiding personal attacks or smear tactics.

The success of the eighth Legislative Assembly election under the new electoral system has no doubt strengthened Macao residents’ confidence in the region’s future

The candidate eligibility vetting mechanism, which is aimed at excluding individuals who failed to uphold the Basic Law and pledge allegiance to the Macao SAR, merely suspends their candidacy for a certain period. It does not revoke their right to vote, nor does it dampen other voters’ enthusiasm, as evidenced by the relatively high voter turnout rate in comparison with those in many Western countries — at 53.35 percent and 88.12 percent respectively in the direct and indirect elections.

The democratic models practiced in the Hong Kong and Macao SARs, understandably, must not simply replicate that of the mainland, or those of the United States and other Western countries. Adversarial democracy is a defining feature of elections in Western election systems. In recent years, this model has increasingly revealed its flaws. To secure votes, many candidates tend to make unrealistic promises or empty pledges without regard for national interests or long-term development. Others engage in mutual defamation, violating basic ethical standards in political conduct, or offering benefits to supporters — a form of vote buying. Still others amplify social contradictions, thereby deepening social rifts and fostering societal antagonism.

The merit of an electoral system should not be measured by its degree of rivalry but by its ability to select qualified governance talent and its contribution to governance enhancement. Under its revamped electoral system, the Hong Kong SAR successfully conducted elections for the Election Committee, the Legislative Council, and the post of chief executive. The empirical evidence shows that the new electoral system upholds the principle of “one country, two systems”, aligns with Hong Kong’s actual situation, and has contributed to the region’s prosperity and stability in the past few years. The outcome of the eighth Macao Legislative Assembly election likewise reaffirmed the suitability of its new electoral systems.

Sunday’s election dispelled long-standing myths and misconceptions about electoral processes.

First, candidate eligibility screening does not diminish broad representation. Candidates came from diverse sectors and backgrounds, with various professional and social experiences. Excluding individuals who have failed to uphold the Basic Law and pledge allegiance to the SAR has not reduced democratic elements; instead, it has produced an electoral process that is more conducive to socioeconomic development.

Second, the myth of “neutrality of public servants” has been debunked. Keeping political oaths requires not merely a gesture but fulfilling a responsibility by public officials. The high voter turnout among civil servants is a positive development that enhances the merit-based selection of political talent under the new system.

Third, the Macao SAR government played a comprehensive role in organizing the election. Beyond ensuring the administration of an orderly election and the enforcement of election laws, it also carried out election publicity and mobilization in a comprehensive way to ensure that voters exercised their rights in accordance with the law and to reduce electoral irregularities. This reflects the proper functioning of the executive-led system.

Fourth, members of the Legislative Assembly carry the important duty of reflecting public opinion while overseeing and supporting the government’s law-based administration. Elections are not held to select the most vocal critics of the government but those who can provide practical and constructive policy proposals. The outcomes of the new Legislative Assembly election embody this principle.

The success of the eighth Legislative Assembly election under the new electoral system has no doubt strengthened Macao residents’ confidence in the region’s future.

The author is vice-chairman of the Committee on Liaison with Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and chairman of the Hong Kong New Era Development Thinktank.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.