Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng has seen his bid for a second term in office challenged by an unfamiliar face in the city’s business community, with Jorge Chiang announcing he wants run for the city’s top job.
Chiang’s announcement on his Facebook account on Wednesday comes about a week after the government confirmed the candidacy of 348 people vying to be gain elector status for the city’s next leader.
Earlier this week, the Macau News Agency reported that the incumbent leader is set to formally announce his intention to stay in office for another five years.
Under existing laws, the chief executive is selected by a panel of 400 electors known as the Chief Executive Election Committee.
344 of them are picked from four sectors, which include seven sub-sectors.
According to his profile, Chiang is a member of the leadership of three groups — one dealing with the city’s system, one with business and one with martial arts.
In his announcement, he stressed that “Macau’s existing management methods are no longer suited to the development of the times and have even become obstacles to future development”.
However, his announced intention to run has so far received little support in the comments section, with many mocking him in their comments.
Ho, who is currently on leave for almost a month, won the city’s top job unopposed in August 2019 with 392 votes, or 98 per cent of the total votes cast.
The election of the chief executive is expected to take place in October at the earliest.
