Former Chongqing Party chief expelled from CPC, public office

World
Europe

Sun Zhengcai, former member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and former secretary of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee, has been expelled from the CPC and dismissed from public office for "serious discipline violations."

A meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Friday reviewed and approved a report on an investigation on Sun and made the decision. His case will be transferred to judicial departments.

Investigations have found that Sun lost his "political stance" and "seriously trampled on the Party's political disciplines and rules," a report by Xinhua news agency said, adding that he seriously violated the CPC's "eight-point rules" against extravagance, waste and graft.

China has launched a nationwide anti-corruption campaign. /Xinhua Photo

He also leaked Party secrets, abused his power and influence to seek profits for others, took expensive gifts and engaged in the "exchange between power and sex," the report said.

The investigation also uncovered evidence that suggests his involvement in other crimes.

Sun's behaviors were "seriously against the CPC Central Committee's political requirement on senior officials" and "betrayed the CPC Central Committee's trust and the people's expectations," causing "huge losses and damages" to the Party and the nation, according to the report.

The decision to expel Sun from the CPC will be put before a plenary meeting of the CPC Central Committee.

Sun, born in September 1963, was Party chief of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality from 2012 to 2017. Ten days after his removal from the post on July 14 this year, Sun was put under investigation by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), according to a decision by the CPC Central Committee.

Chen Min'er, former Party chief of southwest China's Guizhou Province, was appointed the secretary of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee in mid-July.

Chen Min'er, born in September 1960, has replaced Sun Zhengcai as the secretary of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee. /Xinhua Photo

China's nationwide fight against corruption has gained momentum since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012. Hundreds of senior officials have been investigated and about 1.14 million Party members and cadres at or below township level have been punished.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said the anti-corruption crackdown has purified the political environment but that despite a number of achievements, the campaign still has a long way to go.

"The future and fate of a political party and a government depends on whether it wins the people's support," he said at a high-level CPC workshop in late July. "Although the people speak highly of our achievements in the course of fully strengthening Party self-governance, we must not be complacent or over optimistic."

The tone-setting speech sent out a clear signal that the anti-graft campaign would remain the top priority at the 19th CPC National Congress – set to start on October 18 – and for the years ahead.