http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/206322/1/.htmlSINGAPORE : Foreign Minister George Yeo has clarified that Workers' Party candidate James Gomez cannot withdraw from the five-man slate.
PAP leaders have been calling for Mr Gomez's candidacy to be withdrawn, after video footage showed he did not submit his application for a minority candidate certificate, although he had earlier claimed he did.
Mr Yeo, who is leading the PAP team for Aljunied GRC, had earlier suggested that Mr Gomez be dropped and the WP continues to contest with four candidates.
Speaking during a morning visit to Aljunied GRC, Mr Yeo says: "You can't pull out, it's already in the slate, you will enter the ballot paper, but the party can say, "We will, after the elections, remove him from the party" or they can do it now. Then he can;t enter parliament and he can't take the oath of office."
Mr Yeo also refuted claims by the WP that the PAP was engaging in "politics of distraction" by focusing on the James Gomez affair.
Mr Yeo called for a return to issues concerning Aljunied residents.
Responding to Channel NewsAsia's query, the Elections Department says the Singapore Constitution makes no mention of what happens when a candidate in a GRC drops out.
It says the Returning Officer has no legal authority to call off the poll, or declare the opposing team the winner, if a candidate is disqualified after Nomination Day.
So if Mr Gomez were to drop out now, elections in Aljunied GRC will have to proceed.
The Parliamentary Elections Act also does not empower the Returning Officer to re-start the election in the event of a drop-out.
And whether the results of the poll can be set aside if the election was not in accordance with the constitution, will have to be decided by the courts.
The Act only addresses the situation where a candidate dies between Nomination Day and Polling Day.
When that happens, all proceedings for an election will commence afresh - except that no fresh nomination shall be necessary in the case of a candidate who stood nominated at the time of the countermand of the poll. - CNA/de
So for a day or so, george yeo was acting under the interest of the ED. kekekekeke.
