Pro-democracy politicians sweep district-level polls
Hong Kong, Nov.25.– When the “silent majority” found its voice, it did not use it as the authorities hoped. The Hong Kong government of Carrie Lam, the chief executive, had hoped that a populace cowed into silence by six months of increasingly violent unrest would use local elections on November 24th to show their exasperation with anti-government protesters. Instead, they delivered a stunning victory to campaigners for democracy, who support the demonstrators’ aims.
The polls were held to pick about 450 representatives to district councils, rather feeble bodies that deal with local services. Normally pro-democracy politicians pay little attention to such elections. This time they wanted to turn them into a referendum on the protests. The result was a record turnout, and a near-total sweep of the seats.
It was evidence that despite the chaos, transport disruption and economic pain they have caused, the protesters retain strong support. Correspondingly, distrust of the local government and its backers in Beijing is widespread. After casting her own ballot, the city’s Mrs Lam dismissed the idea that this was a confidence vote. Few would agree. Pro-democracy platforms took control of 17 of the 18 councils, none of which they had previously won.
No longer do pro-government parties dominate local-level politics. Hong Kong’s complicated electoral system means this also has an impact at other levels. Six of the 70 seats in the Legislative Council (Legco) are reserved for district councillors. In the most recent general election, in 2016, half of them went to pro-establishment parties; in the next, in 2020, the pro-democracy camp is likely to do better ...
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