Bo Xilai expelled from Party as he faces corruption and bribery charges
Dismissal amid accusations including bribery coincides with Beijing's announcement of November 8 start for crucial 18th national congress
Disgraced Politburo member Bo Xilai has been expelled from the Communist Party and will face criminal prosecution over bribery and other corruption charges, as Beijing scrambles to wind up its worst political crisis in decades ahead of a once-a-decade leadership transition scheduled to start in November.
Along with the decision to dismiss Bo from the Politburo, Central Committee and party and subject him to criminal charges, a Politburo meeting yesterday also announced that the party's 18th national congress will start on November 8, Xinhua reported.
The seventh and last plenum of the party's 17th Central Committee, which will mark the completion of preparations for a generational power transition, will be held on November 1, it said.
Analysts said the decisions on Bo's fate and the dates for the party gatherings showed the top leadership had set aside their differences and put the transition - which has been overshadowed by Bo's downfall and a string of scandals - back on track.
Beijing-based analyst Zhang Lifan said how to handle Bo had become the most divisive and decisive factor in deciding the congress date.
The 63-year-old Bo was accused of serious crimes and violations of party discipline including covering up for his wife in the murder of a British businessman, receiving "huge" bribes and "maintaining improper sexual relationships with a number of women", Xinhua said.
"Bo Xilai's actions created grave repercussions and did massive harm to the reputation of the party and state, producing an extremely malign effect at home and abroad," Xinhua said, citing the Politburo statement.