Guangdong unveils NPC nominees list for first time ever
Public given seven days to comment on 150 candidates, but the gesture is seen as a formality as most appointments have already been decided
Guangdong has for the first time released for public scrutiny a list of 150 provincial candidates for membership of the National People's Congress.
However, political analysts have described the move as a mere formality.
The public has been given seven days - until tomorrow - to express its views about the candidates, Guangdong media reported this week, saying that the move was "the first of its kind" on the mainland. Yesterday's News Express quoted an official as saying that "the central government did not give a specific instruction [to disclose the candidate list], it was our decision [by the provincial government]".
The report said the list of 150 candidates was generated by Guangdong's provincial Communist Party standing committee. Of the 150, 64 had been recommended by the provincial government and 86 by various Guangdong cities. Following last month's party leadership transition, the cabinet, NPC and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) will be revamped in March.
The report said more candidates, recommended by Beijing, would be added to the list. The provincial people's congress would vote on January 25 to elect the 151 deputies who would represent Guangdong at the NPC's annual meeting in Beijing in March.
Dr Peng Peng , a researcher with the Guangzhou Academy of Social Sciences, said the move to publicise the list of Guangdong NPC candidates contradicted the original spirit of the election process.