China’s Communist Party expelled former Politburo member Bo Xilai yesterday and said he will face criminal charges, reaching consensus on a murder scandal that roiled the political elite and clearing the way for a once-in-a- decade transition of power in November.
Bo abused his power, bore “major responsibility” in the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood and had improper sexual relations with several women, the official Xinhua News Agency said. China’s Politburo removed him from public office and transfered his case to the judicial system, Xinhua said.
“They’ve thrown the kitchen sink at him,” said Steven Tsang, director of the China Policy Institute at the University of Nottingham in the U.K. The announcement “means the party has a basic lineup for the leadership. It’s a good thing for them. They’ve reached agreement on the succession,” Tsang said.
The decision is part of an effort by China’s leaders to deal decisively with a scandal that embarrassed the Communist Party, saw Bo’s wife convicted of murder and upset plans for a smooth transition of power set for this year. The condemnation of Bo, son of one of the founders of the People’s Republic of China, aims to paint his case as an aberration at a time when the party is trying to bolster its legitimacy amid a widening wealth gap and rising unrest.
In a separate Xinhua announcement, the Politburo decided it would hold the 18th Communist Party Congress, where China’s next generation of leaders will be anointed, beginning Nov. 8.
Sounds like a real dirtbag!
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