China's new regulations on promotion and demotion of public officials published Tuesday will make cadres uneasy and bring a new sense of urgency to government work: Demotion awaits the lazy and the mediocre.
The new regulations state that a qualified, sitting official should adhere to Communist Party of China (CPC) values, be honest, upright, responsible, diligent and effective. The Party will promote capable officials, replace mediocre ones and sack the incapable and corrupt.
A chronic problem in China's political system allowed officials to be promoted or stay at the same level, but did not allow them be demoted unless they committed the most grievous of mistakes. That problem is about to be fixed. Do-nothing politicians will become unpopular. The incompetent or those lacking initiative will be relieved of their posts.
Since Xi Jinping's team took office late in 2012, bringing with them an array of new rules, investigations and sanctions, many officials have been removed from their posts and prosecuted. Those who ignored the CPC code of conduct have been reprimanded. Those who feel they are safe and sound for now are no longer guaranteed their posts until retirement.
Laziness is unacceptable in the CPC. The new regulation simply says that those who are "unsuited" for their posts should be demoted. The logic that incumbents will be safe if they keep their heads down, cause no trouble and become timid time-servers creates an unhealthy political environment and must not be allowed to gain a foothold in the Party.
Officials who violate social morality and professional ethics will also be demoted or sacked. Among recently fallen officials, dozens committed adultery. Adultery is not a crime in China, but it runs counter to morality and is inappropriate behavior for Party cadres.
To improve accountability, the new regulations require officials to step down when they are held responsible for serious incidents. Officials must also take responsibility for the actions of their families and subordinates.
Assigning capable officials to the proper posts and weeding out unhealthy work styles such as political idleness, neglect of duty and malpractice, will invigorate the current official system and the Party.
The CPC has already reformed its official system by abolishing life tenure, but previous efforts focused on promotion or selection of officials. This is the first time the Party has formally regulated demotions.
The good old days of officials being demoted only if they break CPC rules or the law are gone forever.
