Three members of political advisory body sacked for not doing their jobs
The top political advisory body in a northwestern city has kicked out three members for failing to fulfil their political duties.
In a rare move, the standing committee of the Taiyuan Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference has told three members to quit because they had never put forward any political initiatives or proposals, the Shanxi Daily reported.
A regulation passed by the city's political advisory body in 2007 says members who have failed to carry out their duties for two consecutive years will lose their membership.
CPPCC members are required to attend annual meetings, carry out social surveys and put forward political initiatives, the regulation says. The three are said to have failed to carry out their duties in the past two years.
Athlete Liu Xiang's debut at the annual session of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference last month, two years after his appointment, triggered criticism over high rates of absenteeism.
Many CPPCC members are celebrities who see their membership as more of a symbol of social status.
The Communist Party says the CPPCC is a patriotic, united-front organisation, that serves as a key mechanism for multi-party co-operation and political consultation under the leadership of the party.
