China's Bo Xilai Expelled From Communist Party

[Valin]

WSJ:

 

JEREMY PAGE

9/28/12

 

BEIJING—The Chinese Communist Party expelled former high-flying official Bo Xilai, according to state-run media, which said he will "face justice" for taking huge bribes, for abuses related to the murder investigation against his wife and for engaging in improper sexual relations with multiple women.

 

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By unveiling the accusations against Mr. Bo at the same time as it announced the beginning of the leadership change, party officials appear to be trying to send a signal to the country regarding corruption, the abuse of power and the decadent lifestyles of many within the party elite—issues that have inflamed public opinion. It also serves to acknowledge that the issues have become a direct challenge to the party's hold on power.

 

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This year's Congress is drawing unprecedented levels of domestic and international scrutiny because of the Bo scandal and mounting concern over how the new leadership will maintain social stability in the face of a slowing economy and an emergent urban middle class hungry for more transparent and accountable government. The dates of the past three Congresses—in 1997, 2002 and 2007—were announced around the start of September, but this year the announcement was delayed by continuing debate over the new leadership lineup and over Mr. Bo.

 

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Timeline Vid

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Via Meadia: Bo Xilai Scandal Proves Rot in China Goes to the Top

10/5/12

 

For years, China’s unelected top officials nurtured the carefully crafted image that they were above the corruption and scandal that plagues lower leaders. *The FT reports:

 

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But the Bo Xilai scandal has ripped away the veil, revealing to ordinary Chinese and the world that the rot goes all the way to the upper leadership:

 

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This is a huge problem for the party leadership. It’s suddenly a lot harder for ordinary Chinese to swallow the story that the huge fortunes accumulated by their country’s princelings and potentates are the legitimate rewards of hard work and keen business sense. State-controlled media is working overtime to drive the Bo narrative in a direction that bolsters the party, but this is getting harder to do every day.

 

 

 

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