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China: More than 500 resign over election fraud | China: More than 500 resign over election fraud |
(35 minutes later) | |
More than 500 municipal lawmakers in one Chinese province have stood down following an electoral fraud scandal, according to state media. | More than 500 municipal lawmakers in one Chinese province have stood down following an electoral fraud scandal, according to state media. |
The 512 officials resigned after accepting bribes from 56 members of the provincial assembly to elect them to their posts, Xinhua news agency said. | The 512 officials resigned after accepting bribes from 56 members of the provincial assembly to elect them to their posts, Xinhua news agency said. |
The 56 disgraced lawmakers for central Hunan Province were also dismissed. | The 56 disgraced lawmakers for central Hunan Province were also dismissed. |
President Xi Jinping has vowed to fight corruption - warning it could topple the Communist Party. | President Xi Jinping has vowed to fight corruption - warning it could topple the Communist Party. |
'Vile impact' | 'Vile impact' |
Municipal officials have the power to appoint representatives to the local People's Congress, the provincial parliament that rubber-stamps decisions. | Municipal officials have the power to appoint representatives to the local People's Congress, the provincial parliament that rubber-stamps decisions. |
Local authorities dismissed 56 representatives of the 763-strong Hunan People's Congress for being "elected by bribery", state television channel CCTV said on its Twitter account. | Local authorities dismissed 56 representatives of the 763-strong Hunan People's Congress for being "elected by bribery", state television channel CCTV said on its Twitter account. |
An initial investigation revealed that 110m yuan ($18.1m, £11m) was offered in bribes to lawmakers and staff in the province's second city of Hengyang, Xinhua reported, citing a Hunan government statement. | An initial investigation revealed that 110m yuan ($18.1m, £11m) was offered in bribes to lawmakers and staff in the province's second city of Hengyang, Xinhua reported, citing a Hunan government statement. |
"The fraud, involving such a huge number of lawmakers and a large amount of money, is serious in nature and has a vile impact," Xinhua quoted the statement as saying. | "The fraud, involving such a huge number of lawmakers and a large amount of money, is serious in nature and has a vile impact," Xinhua quoted the statement as saying. |
"This is a challenge to China's system of people's congresses, socialist democracy, law and Party discipline," it said. | "This is a challenge to China's system of people's congresses, socialist democracy, law and Party discipline," it said. |
It named Tong Mingqian, the former Communist Party chief of Hengyang, as being "directly responsible" for the election scandal. | It named Tong Mingqian, the former Communist Party chief of Hengyang, as being "directly responsible" for the election scandal. |
President Xi has launched an anti-corruption campaign, pledging to target both "tigers and flies" - high and low ranking officials in the government. | |
There have been bans on new government buildings and lavish banquets, as Mr Xi demands officials cut down on waste and extravagance. | |
On Saturday, the president made a rare visit to a self-service restaurant in the capital, Beijing, taking his place in the queue with other customers. | |
Photos posted on the Chinese social media site, Weibo, show him in a traditional steamed bun shop where he ordered and paid for a meal at lunch time. |
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