The figure has dropped since 2004, when 49,000 members were expelled, even if "probes into political positions have been increased". There has been a clampdown on "mining investors" and those who bought themselves political positions.
Beijing (AsiaNews/SCMP) China's Communist Party expelled more than 24,000 members in 2005, the secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection announced yesterday. Wu Guanzheng was presenting his disciplinary report for last year.
Wu announced the expulsion of 24,188 cadres, a drop compared to 49,000 members thrown out in 2004, although politicians are now subject to more investigations. His Commission in fact looked into 115,143 cases of bad government by public officials: at the end of the probes, 44,386 received "a warning" and 32,289 got "a serious warning".
The Party suspended 3,000 members from their official posts for an indefinite period; another 10,600 are awaiting a decision. The Commission presented 15,177 cases to the judicial authorities for "suspected criminal activities".
The business of "mining investors" within the Party was dealt a blow: despite the official ban handed down last year by Beijing which forbids the acquisition of mine shares more than 4,800 members were found to own stakes with a value of more than 737 million yuan.
Wu said he "wanted to strike the custom of buying political positions with cash". "This year, all Chinese political positions will be elected. This will be a significant event in the political life of the entire party," he added. "Those suspected of buying or selling official positions will not be considered."