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Sunday 18 March 2012
Chongqing officials rally around Hu
Chongqing officials have closed ranks with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership, pledging loyalty to President Hu Jintao amid mixed feelings among the city’s residents about the dramatic sacking of their leader Bo Xilai.
Show of support quells fears of elite split in city led by Bo loyalists
By Peh Shing Huei 18 March 2012
Chongqing officials have closed ranks with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership, pledging loyalty to President Hu Jintao amid mixed feelings among the city’s residents about the dramatic sacking of their leader Bo Xilai.
Beijing’s comments on China’s biggest political storm in years have been like a ‘capsule which calms frayed nerves’ (ding xin wan), said the south-western mega city’s main communist party newspaper, Chongqing Daily, yesterday.
Chongqing’s government, legislators and advisers - the three key pillars of the administration - all declared complete support for incoming party boss Zhang Dejiang, it said.
The report quelled fears of an elite split in the city, with Bo loyalists opposing the change.
The Chongqing Daily reported a meeting of local officials where they voiced support for Beijing’s decision to make Vice-Premier Zhang the new Chongqing party chief. His appointment was read as a sign that the central government places much importance on Chongqing.
‘It will help improve our confidence in doing a good job in Chongqing,’ said Mayor Huang Qifan, the second in command of the city.
The open support is expected, said analysts, during such major personnel changes.
‘These officials must express their views, show support and exhibit party discipline,’ said political expert Zhang Ming from Renmin University.
‘Otherwise, they might not keep their jobs. Look at how fast Huang Qifan has turned around! Bo Xilai must be shaking his head.’
Mr. Huang was the right-hand man of Mr. Bo and was the one tasked to chase after former police chief and Vice-mayor Wang Lijun when the latter fled to the US consulate in Chengdu, in neighbouring Sichuan province, last month.
He had told the media that he was responsible for coaxing Mr. Wang into leaving the American compound, so as to avoid a diplomatic crisis.
The scandal led to the stunning firing of Mr. Bo, 62, as Chongqing party boss last Thursday. He keeps his critical seat on the 25-member elite Politburo for now.
But in a sign of his rapidly falling political fortunes, he was not mentioned in any of the Chongqing news on Friday.
Still, it would take some time for locals to move on from the controversy. Residents in the hilly town had expressed surprise over the change and sympathised with Mr. Bo, whom many felt had done some good work.
‘His crackdown on triads was good for the people. At least we do feel safer now,’ said businessman Jiao Qingdong, 42.
There has even been talk of some protests in the city to support Mr. Bo, but analysts do not think that demonstrations will happen.
‘People will not stick their necks out for this. I believe things will largely quieten down very soon and Chongqing will be business as usual,’ said Professor Zhang.
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Chongqing officials rally around Hu
Show of support quells fears of elite split in city led by Bo loyalists
By Peh Shing Huei
18 March 2012
Chongqing officials have closed ranks with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership, pledging loyalty to President Hu Jintao amid mixed feelings among the city’s residents about the dramatic sacking of their leader Bo Xilai.
Beijing’s comments on China’s biggest political storm in years have been like a ‘capsule which calms frayed nerves’ (ding xin wan), said the south-western mega city’s main communist party newspaper, Chongqing Daily, yesterday.
Chongqing’s government, legislators and advisers - the three key pillars of the administration - all declared complete support for incoming party boss Zhang Dejiang, it said.
The report quelled fears of an elite split in the city, with Bo loyalists opposing the change.
The Chongqing Daily reported a meeting of local officials where they voiced support for Beijing’s decision to make Vice-Premier Zhang the new Chongqing party chief. His appointment was read as a sign that the central government places much importance on Chongqing.
‘It will help improve our confidence in doing a good job in Chongqing,’ said Mayor Huang Qifan, the second in command of the city.
The open support is expected, said analysts, during such major personnel changes.
‘These officials must express their views, show support and exhibit party discipline,’ said political expert Zhang Ming from Renmin University.
‘Otherwise, they might not keep their jobs. Look at how fast Huang Qifan has turned around! Bo Xilai must be shaking his head.’
Mr. Huang was the right-hand man of Mr. Bo and was the one tasked to chase after former police chief and Vice-mayor Wang Lijun when the latter fled to the US consulate in Chengdu, in neighbouring Sichuan province, last month.
He had told the media that he was responsible for coaxing Mr. Wang into leaving the American compound, so as to avoid a diplomatic crisis.
The scandal led to the stunning firing of Mr. Bo, 62, as Chongqing party boss last Thursday. He keeps his critical seat on the 25-member elite Politburo for now.
But in a sign of his rapidly falling political fortunes, he was not mentioned in any of the Chongqing news on Friday.
Still, it would take some time for locals to move on from the controversy. Residents in the hilly town had expressed surprise over the change and sympathised with Mr. Bo, whom many felt had done some good work.
‘His crackdown on triads was good for the people. At least we do feel safer now,’ said businessman Jiao Qingdong, 42.
There has even been talk of some protests in the city to support Mr. Bo, but analysts do not think that demonstrations will happen.
‘People will not stick their necks out for this. I believe things will largely quieten down very soon and Chongqing will be business as usual,’ said Professor Zhang.
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