NPC Standing Committee's removal of vice mayor should be promoted

Bi Wenzhang

During the recess of the municipal people's representative meeting, the municipal NPC standing committee was able to remove a certain vice mayor from office. Yesterday, the 29th meeting of the 14th municipal NPC standing committee passed a decision to modify the "Regulations on the Chengdu Municipal NPC Standing Committee's Personnel Appointment and Removal Acts."
The regulation stipulates that during the recess of the municipal NPC, the municipal NPC standing committee can decide to remove an individual vice mayor of the municipal government, as well as other government members appointed by him/her, including the vice director of the people's court, the chief judge, vice chief judge, members of the judicial committee, judges, vice chief procurator of the procuratorate, members of the procurators' committee, procurators, director of the intermediate people's court, director of the sub-division of the people's procuratorate, etc.
As we all know, the NPC is the highest power organ in the nation and is responsible for supervising the government. However, in many places the NPC can only carry out its supervisory power according to the law when in session, and becomes a pure ornament when its meetings are over. Though sometimes government leaders do report their work to the NPC, this is basically a formality. The NPC Standing Committee cannot do anything even when it is very dissatisfied with government leaders. If it is not time for re-election, the committee has no right to remove government leaders. This situation is very bad for work and the time has arrived to resolve this problem once and for all.
In order to better supervise government work, the NPC standing committee must be given more power. Otherwise, supervision becomes an empty word. Chengdu has realized this issue and conducted effective improvement of the NPC's supervisory mechanism. They allowed the NPC standing committee to remove a vice mayor from office during an NPC recess. The new Chengdu Regulation is in keeping with the Supervisory Law, which is about to be implemented. It provides stricter standards for removing, reviewing and decision-making related to NPC elected and appointed government and judicial workers; this should be applauded. Because this new motion must be handled with caution, the amended regulation stipulates that a percentage of co-signers for removal motion must be higher than for other motions, and is changed from the original "five or more members of the NPC standing committee" to above 20% of the members present. Before the removal motion is voted on, officials to be removed have the right to defend themselves at the municipal NPC standing committee meeting either directly or in writing. The voting on removal motions adopts secret ballots, and its motions are passed when over half of the members present agree.
I personally believe that what Chengdu did is result of reform and innovation. It is in keeping with the time. It is significant for the NPC's supervisory work. Other places should learn from Chengdu and promote NPC work to a new height. We should create a freer legal environment for building a socialist harmonious society.

by reporter Bi Wenzhang