NPC chairman Zhang Dejiang's election 'unconstitutional', says lawyer
Wang Cheng, a Hangzhou lawyer and social activist, on Monday sent a letter to the nation’s highest court, alleging that Zhang Dejiang's election to the National People’s Congress was invalid.
A lawyer has filed suit against one of China's highest officials, calling his election as the head of the top legislative body “unconstitutional”.
Wang Cheng, a Hangzhou lawyer and social activist, on Monday sent a letter to the nation’s highest court, alleging that Zhang Dejiang's election to the National People’s Congress was invalid.
In the document, he said Zhang’s election violated China’s constitution, Article 65 in particular.
The article stipulates that no one on the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress shall hold office in any of the administrative, judicial or procuratorial organs of the state.
“But when Zhang was elected as the chairman of the NPC Standing Committee on March 14, he was still serving the post of China’s vice-premier,” Wang said.
Zhang formally stepped down from his government post two days later when the new line-up of vice-premiers was announced.
Wang also alleged the elections of five vice-chairmen of the NPC Standing Committee were invalid under the same reasoning: former president of the Supreme People’s Court Wang Shengjun; former head of the National Development and Reform Commission Zhang Ping; former health minister Chen Zhu; former vice-president of the Supreme People’s Court Wan Exiang; and former director of the State Council Information Office Wang Chen.