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FORMER Guangzhou Communist Party (CCP) leader Wan Qinglian was expelled by the party’s disciplinary body yesterday on charges of corruption.
His expulsion is the latest in a wide-ranging campaign to rehabilitate the party’s reputation against allegations of being out of touch and tolerating greed and dishonesty.
The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said that Mr Wan’s case was being referred for criminal prosecution over accusations of having demanded and received a “gigantic amount” of bribes.
The disciplinary commission alleged that he had abused his office to benefit others and visited expensive private clubs on multiple occasions in violation of party rules against corruption and extravagance.
Word of his expulsion coincided with the announcement of the results of a 15-month anti-corruption austerity drive that has sent shockwaves through the 86.7 million-member party.
The party said that more than 74,000 of its members have been punished for extravagance during the campaign that ended in September, and 162,629 “phantom staff,” who collected salaries and benefits without showing up for work, cut from the government payroll.
More than 114,000 unauthorised luxury vehicles were seized, work halted on 2,580 unnecessary government buildings and 96,000 official overseas junkets cancelled, the CCP said.
Led from the top by President Xi Jinping, the campaign has radically reduced spending on entertainment, fancy office buildings and vehicles.
President Xi has also campaigned against overly bureaucratic practices and the party said that 586,000 fewer meetings were held and 1.9 million fewer documents issued during the campaign compared to the previous 15 months.
