Critical masses
The party tries to rein in officials with a campaign of self-criticism
ONE official admitted he had sat on too many sofas and not enough wooden stools, and raised too many goblets but only a few simple teacups. The official, quoted in People’s Daily, a state-run newspaper, was taking part in a “democratic life meeting” run by the Communist Party in September in the northern province of Hebei, at which senior officials were required to criticise themselves and their colleagues. The meetings are the latest part of a “mass-line” campaign led by Xi Jinping, China’s president and party chief, to keep the party close to the people.
This article appeared in the China section of the print edition under the headline “Critical masses”
China October 5th 2013
From the October 5th 2013 edition
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