Central Committee vote belies much touted intra-party democracy

The level of competition in preliminary voting for the elite Central Committee turned out to be lower than expected, dealing another embarrassing blow to the Communist Party's much touted internal democracy.

The formal vote to be held today at the concluding session of the week-long party congress will not be competitive, analysts said, meaning that the number of candidates will match the number of seats available.

Xinhua said at least 8 per cent of nominees were eliminated in the first-round elections for membership and alternate membership (stand-ins in the event a member has to be replaced) of the Central Committee and membership of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the party's top anti-corruption agency.

Official media have been tight-lipped on the exact size of the new Central Committee, but Gansu party congress delegate Wang Dong revealed late yesterday that 205 of 224 candidates had been shortlisted in the first round, meaning 9.3 per cent were eliminated.

That marks little improvement from the previous party congress five years ago, at which 8.3 per cent were eliminated in early voting.

Several other delegates also said 19 candidates had been eliminated in primary elections held on Sunday and Monday. That compared with 17 in 2007.

The two-stage practice is a compromise designed to give congress delegates some freedom to vote while at the same time making sure the result of the formal vote is predetermined.