BEIJING'S new party secretary, Wei Jianxing, is a Mr Clean whose appointment reflects the post-Deng Xiaoping administration's determination to crack down on corruption.
Being acceptable to both President Jiang Zemin and National People's Congress Chairman Qiao Shi, Mr Wei's accession is also a product of factional balance.
Having been in charge of personnel and disciplinary matters since 1984, the native of coastal Zhejiang province has a good reputation for cracking tough cases.
Mr Wei, 64, who was made a Politburo member and the head of the party's highest watchdog, the Central Commission for Disciplinary Inspection, in 1992, has also been praised as a latter-day Judge Pao after the legendary Song dynasty jurist.
While his appointment to the key posting of Beijing party boss was unanimously endorsed this week by the Politburo Standing Committee, Mr Wei is believed to be Mr Qiao's protege.
He was a deputy of the congress Chairman, who also hails from Zhejiang, when the latter was the head of the party Central Committee's Organisation Department during the mid-1980s.
Political sources in Beijing said Mr Wei had Mr Qiao's backing when he succeeded the latter as head of the watchdog body.
