Editorials

Small step forward

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-05-28 07:58

Editor's note: Only when voters exercise their right of veto will deputies truly represent their interests.

The expulsion of a local people's congress deputy on charges of misappropriating public funds may be a small step, but certainly no great leap forward, as far as electoral democracy is concerned.

Mi Xiaodong was stripped of his duties after more than 6,000 voters in Xupu county in central China's Hunan province pushed for his ouster. Of course, this time the move was backed by the local people's congress.

Mi's eviction would hardly have been possible without the avowed support of the local congress although the rights of voters are stated explicitly in the laws governing elections.

Yet, Mi's removal was also made easy by regulations, which stipulate that a people's congress deputy will be suspended from his functions if he or she has been convicted. Mi's earlier conviction made the job easy for the local congress.

Indeed, the complicated process of dismissal and non-cooperation by the local congress doomed some attempts by local constituents to vote out their deputies.

The current victory, however, should serve as a reminder that voters do have the right to kick unqualified deputies out of the people's congress, albeit with their cooperation.

Local congresses need to give careful thought to voter preferences and facilitate procedures aimed at booting out unwanted deputies, as Xupu county has shown.

Only when voters exercise their right of veto will deputies truly represent their interests. It is hoped this case will show the way forward for many such voluntary actions by voters fed up with non-performing or callous deputies.

(China Daily 05/28/2010 page8)