Ex-judge Sam Hou-fai named Macau leader after securing 394 votes in uncontested election

Former top judge Sam Hou-fai was named as Macau’s new leader after an uncontested election on Sunday.

The chief executive-elect received 394 votes from the 400-strong Election Committee in an hour-long poll. There were also four blank ballots and two absentees. The figures mean he received 98.5 per cent of ballots from all eligible voters.

In comparison, outgoing leader Ho Iat-seng secured 392 out of 400 votes and received seven blank ballots in the 2019 election.

Committee members gathered on Sunday morning to cast their ballots at rows of enclosed booths. Voting lasted only about 20 minutes.

Sam, a little-known former president of Macau’s Court of Final Appeal whose previous public remarks were limited to speeches at legal year ceremonies, announced his election bid in late August after resigning from his post as top judge.

In his manifesto revealed two weeks ago, he pledged to speed up efforts to reduce the city’s economic reliance on the gaming sector, better integrate Macau into national development strategies and improve people’s livelihoods.