Sam Hou Fai Runs Uncontested for Macao CE

Sam Hou Fai has become the sole candidate for Macao's chief executive position after securing 383 out of 400 endorsements from the Chief Executive Election Committee, effectively eliminating any competition for the upcoming election on October 13. This endorsement, which accounts for 96% of the votes, means no other candidate can meet the minimum requirement of 66 nominations needed to participate. Sam, a former top judge, expressed his satisfaction with the support received and emphasized the importance of engaging with the community and remaining committee members to further understand their needs. He plans to conduct outreach efforts despite being the only candidate and has expressed loyalty to Macau's Basic Law and China. The current chief executive, Ho Iat-seng, will not seek re-election due to health issues, paving the way for Sam's uncontested candidacy. Historically, Macao has seen similar situations where elections have featured a single candidate, except for the inaugural election in 1999.