Hello! Today I Talk about of Is Democracy Coming to the Communist Party?
Xi Jinping, the man tipped to take over as the Communist Party leader on Thursday, has reportedly proposed an election for the Party's Politburo. Currently with 24 members, the Politburo is a group of senior leaders who direct the course of the Communist Party. Reuters reported today that current leader Hu Jintao is also behind the idea. Citing internal sources, Reuters says the two men want to increase the number of candidates for the seats, and the Politburo members would be elected by the approximately 200 members of the Party's Central Committee next week. If true, the proposal is likely an attempt to address the Communist Party's legitimacy crisis. Since 1949, the Party has controlled all levels of China's government and many aspects of civil society. A lack of checks and balances has led to rampant corruption, growing inequality, and other social problems. Political commentator Lan Shu says the reported bid for internal elections still will not solve the regime's legitimacy problems. [Lan Shu, Political Commentator]: "This kind of reform does not resolve two problems. First, it doesn't solve the issue of the Communist Party riding above the law and constitution. Secondly, it cannot solve the moral crisis left behind by the Party's destruction of culture. This kind of democracy has no restraining effects on Party officials." Lan points out that voting by the 200 Central Committee members is still not the same as democracy—because those members are not elected in the first place. The Politburo is the second level of power within the Communist Party. Nine of its members make up the more powerful Politburo Standing Committee.
