Beijing blockade

Former Chongqing party leader Bo Xilai is at the heart of just such a scandal. At this juncture,the party would have hoped to focus attention on making an example of him. Perhaps that explains his unsurprising expulsion from the National Peoples Congress soon after the NYT report. Not surprising,either,is the reports content,since rumours have long done the rounds that Wens family benefited immensely during his decade-long premiership. The report puts a figure to it 2.7 billion worth of assets allegedly held by his wife,mother,children,siblings and in-laws and cites a WikiLeaks cable dated 2007,in which Wen was said to be disgusted with their activities. The partys rules need top officials to disclose their wealth and that of their immediate families,but dont prohibit them from striking deals and investing. Wen himself is not tied to any of the assets,but his familys fortune appears to have been made in sectors over which he holds direct authority.

So,although Beijing has condemned the report as a smear,Xi Jinping,the man expected to take over the leadership reins,will have to take some hard decisions at a time when citizens are no longer content with getting rich fast,nor is the economy as healthy as it was.