Beijing’s mayor on track for party promotion

Published on 26/07/2012 00:00

Beijing’s mayor is apparently still on track to be promoted to China’s powerful decision-making body despite public questioning of the city government’s handling of floods that left at least 37 dead.

Mayor Guo Jinlong and one of his deputy mayors resigned, state media reported yesterday, in what is likely a routine reshuffling. The announcement came as more rain was forecast, with signs that the death toll from last weekend’s storms could jump higher.

Saturday’s massive flooding was a major embarrassment for Beijing, which spent huge amounts modernising the city while apparently neglecting its drainage systems. State media, analysts and China’s online community have piled on criticism of the city’s handling of the crisis and its lack of preparedness.

Mr Guo had already been tapped for a promotion to the city’s top position as Communist Party secretary, so his resignation was not unexpected.