Money Politics and Political Mobilization

Abstract

The 1996 Legislative Assembly elections are important for several reasons. First, this new body was set up to sit for five years, until 2001. Thus, the legislators who were elected in 1996 would ride the ‘through train’ to become members of the first Legislative Assembly in the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR). Second, an unprecedented number of political groups (12) were formed and candidates (62) registered for elections. Third, voter turnout on election day was one of the highest in Macau’s history. Last but not least, there is the prominent role that money politics played in Macau politics and the elections.