Hong Kong's democracy supporters were dealt a huge blow Friday as authorities postponed local elections because of the coronavirus, capping a devastating month
The city's democracy camp has come under sustained attack since Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law on the city last month -- a move China's leaders described as a"sword" hanging over the head of its critics.
The decision will infuriate democracy supporters who had warned against any moves to delay the polls, accusing authorities of using the pandemic to avoid a drubbing at the ballot box. It also came a day after a dozen prominent democracy activists were barred from standing for election because their political views were deemed to be unacceptable.
Planning to capitalise on last year's huge and often violent anti-Beijing protests, democracy activists had been hoping to win their first-ever majority in September. But officials have begun scrubbing ballot lists of candidates. According to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, at least 68 elections worldwide have been postponed because of the virus, while 49 went ahead.Hong Kong is going through its most politically turbulent period since its return to Chinese rule, and last year seven straight months of pro-democracy protests swept the city. The pandemic and mass arrests have helped throttle the movement, but anger towards Beijing still seethes.
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