Cunmin de xuanze

Since the 1987 reform, China has set up a system of town councils, but it was only in spring 1997 that democratic elections with a secret vote and multiple candidates came into force. In the village of Three Lamas, 200 km Beijing, the local communist party cell and influential official have planned the re-election of the outgoing representative, Mr Chen. In order to respect official proceedings, they propose a second candidate, Mr Chen’s brother. The villagers, however, have reason to complain of Mr Chen’s management and some of them would prefer to vote for Mr Zou. For sure, he is not on the list of candidates who got through the first selection by the organising connection committee, but the electors have understood that they have the right to vote and are determined to make full use of it.