China's elections won't be Western-style, says lawmaker

Beijing, Mar.20 : China has said that it will adhere to its own mode of development instead of adopting Western-style elections.

"Different countries have different election rules and a socialist China won''t follow Western election campaigns," the China Daily quoted Li Fei, the deputy director of the legislative affairs commission under the Standing Committee of the National People''s Congress (NPC), the country''s top legislature, as saying.

He was speaking after the adoption of the latest amendment to the Electoral Law last Sunday.

Li, who has been leading the revision, said some people want to expand direct elections, but the current priority is to perfect existing direct elections at county and township levels.

Whether in terms of justice or fairness, a society must pay more attention to "substantial democracy", which in China means that there should be representatives from all areas, ethnic groups and walks of life, Li said.

"Western-style elections, however, are a game for the rich. They are affected by the resources and funding that a candidate can utilize. Those who manage to win elections are easily in the shoes of their parties or sponsors and become spokespersons for the minority," Li said, referring to Western elections at the national level.