China all set for National People's Congress

Tian'anmen Square, located in the CBD of Beijing, is now under tight security. Where tourists from all over the world usually take pictures, there are now police and soldiers. They are there to keep peace and order for the 3,000 delegates who meet annually to discuss legislation.

Skyrocketing real-estate prices, rampant corruption and disparities between the rich and the poor. Political scientist, Gu Xuewu from Bonn University, believes this year, the National People's Congress will focus on domestic affairs. Experts say reorganizing the economy is at the top of the list. One of Beijing's long term goals is to increase domestic demand and reduce exports.

Gu Xuewu does not expect anything world-shaking to come out of the meeting. "Heads of the party will use the National People's Congress to test the reaction and the atmosphere among the people. Big decisions won't be made until after the meeting, when the politbureau meets again."

The National People's Congress formally represents the voice of the Chinese people and it is China's highest legislative organ. But the so-called "army of voters" only gives its approval to suggestions made by the party. It is quite normal to have delegates vote 90 percent in favor on any random topic. Controversial discussions are very rare. There was one in 1992, when one third of the delegates voted against the construction of the Three Gorges Dam Project.

The NPC has no say

According to Gu, when it comes to political decision making, the National People's Congress has no say: "When it comes to politics, to setting guidelines, political decisions are not made by the congress, but by the politbureau. It is the party in China that retains the real power."

What goes on behind the red velvet curtain in the Great Hall of the People, involves making private pacts and weaving webs of intrigues. In two years there will be a generation change in party command. Cheng Li of the Brookings Institute in Washington says many are likely to be using the congress' spotlight to spread their names throughout China. Li thinks this goes especially for one man: Party secretary of the city Chongqing, Bo Xilai.

"He is a self-made man, media-friendly and this is just one further event for him. He already belongs to the 25-member politbureau. He could very well become a member of the Politbureau Standing Committee in two year's time."

The star of Chinese politics

Bo Xilai is the new star of the Chinese politbureau. Born to a veteran of the revolution, he became known throughout China for cracking down on criminal gangs in Chongqing. The party newspaper named him man of the year. Bo Xilai has held many party and government offices. Ex-party leader, Jiang Zemin, is one of his supporters. But Bo Xilai is a controvercial figure. Some party members don't agree with his take-no-gruff style. But the people love him, it would seem.

Bo's rival in the fight for a seat in the Politbureau Standing Committee is Wang Yang. Yang is the head of government in the rich Guandong province. He was a member of the Communist Youth League and is said to be President Hu Jintao's protégé. Wang was Bo Xilai's predecessor as Party Secretary of Chongqing. Many believe Bo Xilai's clampdown against organized crime was born out of spite for his predecessor. But who will win in this power struggle has yet to be seen.

Author: Christoph Ricking / sb
Editor: Grahame Lucas