[h=3]By JEREMY PAGE[/h]The Chinese Communist Party expelled former high-flying official Bo Xilai, according to state-run media on Friday, which said he will "face justice" for taking huge bribes, for abuses related to the murder investigation against his wife and for engaging in improper sexual relations with multiple women.
Associated PressBo Xilai, here as Chongqing party secretary during the National People's Congress in March, has been expelled from the Chinese Communist Party
State media also said the party's 18th National Congress will convene on Nov. 8, beginning a once-a-decade leadership change that will install a new generation officials at the helm of the world's No. 2 economy.
The twin announcements from the state-run Xinhua news agency indicate that party chieftains have likely reached broad agreement on who should run the country for the next 10 years. Internal differences over how to handle the Bo case are widely believed to have delayed an announcement on when the leadership change would begin. Mr. Bo was once a candidate for high office before being stripped of his position as the top party official in the city of Chongqing in March.
By unveiling the accusations against Mr. Bo at the same time as the announcement of the beginning of the leadership change, party officials appear to be trying to send a signal to the country regarding corruption, the abuse of power and the decadent lifestyles of many within the party elite—issues that have inflamed national public opinion. It also serves as an acknowledgment that the issues have become a direct challenge to the party's hold on power.
"No corrupt elements will escape discipline from the party and state legal system," Xinhua said, adding that Mr. Bo's actions "severely damaged the reputation of the party and the country and had an extremely negative influence domestically and abroad."
Xinhua said Mr. Bo's alleged offenses took place over a lengthy career within the Communist Party, dating back to his days at mayor of the northeast port city of Dalian 1993 to 2001 and continuing through his time as governor of Liaoning province, China's commerce minister and then as party chief in Chongqing. "He has made serious mistakes and has had serious violations of party discipline," Xinhua said.
State media also said the party's 18th National Congress will convene on Nov. 8, beginning a once-a-decade leadership change that will install a new generation officials at the helm of the world's No. 2 economy.
The twin announcements from the state-run Xinhua news agency indicate that party chieftains have likely reached broad agreement on who should run the country for the next 10 years. Internal differences over how to handle the Bo case are widely believed to have delayed an announcement on when the leadership change would begin. Mr. Bo was once a candidate for high office before being stripped of his position as the top party official in the city of Chongqing in March.
By unveiling the accusations against Mr. Bo at the same time as the announcement of the beginning of the leadership change, party officials appear to be trying to send a signal to the country regarding corruption, the abuse of power and the decadent lifestyles of many within the party elite—issues that have inflamed national public opinion. It also serves as an acknowledgment that the issues have become a direct challenge to the party's hold on power.
"No corrupt elements will escape discipline from the party and state legal system," Xinhua said, adding that Mr. Bo's actions "severely damaged the reputation of the party and the country and had an extremely negative influence domestically and abroad."
Xinhua said Mr. Bo's alleged offenses took place over a lengthy career within the Communist Party, dating back to his days at mayor of the northeast port city of Dalian 1993 to 2001 and continuing through his time as governor of Liaoning province, China's commerce minister and then as party chief in Chongqing. "He has made serious mistakes and has had serious violations of party discipline," Xinhua said.