The election for the Eighth Legislative Assembly of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) commenced on Sunday.
Voting began at 9:00 and is scheduled to conclude at 21:00 the same day, with preliminary results expected to be in the early hours of Monday.
In this year's election, a total of 37 polling locations were set up, with 38 direct election polling stations and five indirect election polling stations, according to the official.
To facilitate voters, 29 election service stations were placed in public streets and park rest areas near polling locations across Macao on election day.
The Legislative Assembly of the Macao SAR is the region's sole legislative body, composed of permanent residents of the Macao SAR, with the majority of its members elected.
The eighth legislature consists of 33 members. with 14 members to be elected by direct vote, and 12 by indirect vote, while remaining seven will be appointed by the Macao SAR chief executive within 15 days after the final election results are confirmed.
Except for the first term, which was stipulated otherwise, each term lasts four years.
In 2024, the Macao SAR amended its Legislative Assembly Election Law, improving the candidate qualification review process to further implement the principle of "patriots administering Macao" within the legal framework, while also refining stages of the election process to ensure that the election is conducted in a fair, just, clean, and orderly manner.
Macao holds election for its 8th Legislative Assembly
Japanese people gathered in Tokyo on Friday to protest against the government's recent decision to revise the "three principles on transfer of defense equipment and technology" which now allows the export of lethal weapons.
On Tuesday, the Japanese government, led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, officially revised the "three principles on transfer of defense equipment and technology" and their implementation guidelines.
The revisions scrap the restrictions that had limited arms exports to five non-combat categories, allow, in principle, the export of lethal weapons, permit transfers to nations engaged in active conflict under specified circumstances, and sideline parliament from the decision-making process -- crossing a line that previous governments had at least nominally upheld.
Protesters assembled in Shinjuku district on Friday evening, voicing strong opposition to the dangerous shift away from Japan's postwar pacifist principles and expressing deep concerns over Japan's failure to fully reflect on its wartime past.
"It's unforgivable. Revising the 'three principles on transfer of defense equipment and technology' through a simple Cabinet decision is absolutely unacceptable," said a protester.
"We should have properly reflected on the war that happened over 80 years ago, but we haven't. Is it acceptable if people are killed by the weapons, missiles, or bombs we export? Absolutely not. Such a thing must never be allowed to happen. That is why I strongly oppose this policy," said another protester.
Also on Friday, over a thousand protesters gathered in front of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) headquarters, holding placards and chanting slogans demanding the resignation of Takaichi.
They expressed growing frustration with the current administration and condemned the export of lethal weapons.
"This has gone too far. Japan is becoming an outrageous country. From exporting weapons to revising the Constitution, everything is shifting. The LDP has long had this tendency, and under the Takaichi administration, the situation has become even worse. If we don't stop this now, Japan will turn into a truly frightening nation," said a protester.
"Manufacturing and selling weapons that may be used to kill people is something the Japanese public cannot tolerate. The government made this decision arbitrarily, and it is completely unacceptable," said another protester.
"I really hope the government stops exporting lethal weapons. My child even asked me, 'Is Japan going to sell weapons and start a war?' We must do everything we can to prevent this from happening," said a mother participating in the rally, expressing her worry for future generations.
Protesters gather in Tokyo, protest against Japan's move to allow lethal weapon exports
