Party paper's caution on Xi's 'mass line' campaign
Rare article says president must introduce democratic reforms if he is really serious about strengthening ties with the people
A rare article in a party-run publication has voiced caution about the "mass line" campaign of President Xi Jinping, saying that the leader's latest initiative to strengthen ties with the people could not be a substitute for real democratic institutions and reform.
"The mass line is not an effective substitute that can realise the function of democracy," Li Haiqing said in an article published yesterday in the Study Times, a newspaper run by the Central Party School.
Li is a Communist Party historian, also with the Central Party School.
The "mass line" is party jargon coined by late leader Mao Zedong to describe the need to stay in touch with the people.
Under Mao's doctrine, the Communist Party's founding father didn't want citizens to have the right to vote, but he did think that it was crucial for party leaders to understand their views.
The party leadership under Xi officially launched a year-long "mass line" campaign after a three-day Politburo meet last month.
The party said that the initiative also focused on anti-corruption and on improving the party's work styles.