Opinion | Legco term extension poses a dilemma for opposition lawmakers, but they must stay and fight
- If the opposition legislators who have been disqualified from the elections stay, they will be condemned by localists. But, if the pro-democracy camp boycotts Legco, who will speak out against controversial government proposals?
The democrats are now on the horns of a dilemma. The matter has already stirred up hot debate among traditional democrats and localists. Some have started to point fingers. This has the makings of the ugly internal strife the Communist Party must be waiting for.
If the four stay, they will be condemned as megalomaniacs by localists. They will be seen as traitors who endorse the Communist Party’s decision to postpone the elections in the first place. Also, in this scenario, Beijing cannot be accused of pushing out the four lawmakers twice.
The opposition camp will lose four seats in Legco, as well as the funding and resources that come with them. Without this support from within the system, it is questionable whether the battle on the street can be sustained. If worse comes to worst, Beijing can continue postponing the elections and prolonging the term of the current lawmakers.