BEIJING: The Communist Party of China on Monday demoted a close ally of President Hu Jintao ahead of the coming leadership change later this year after his son was involved in a deadly car crash involving a Ferrari. The move comes after the party banished another leader,Bo Xilai, who was due for a promotion during the leadership shuffle.
The state-run media made a terse announcement saying Ling Jihua, 55, was appointed as head of the Communist Party's united front work department. He has been asked to relinquish a far more important position as the director of the General Office of the Central Committee.
Previous directors of this committee include premier Wen Jiabao and former vice president Zeng Qinghong. The director usually functions as a cabinet secretary in the government. The move came after Ling's son threw up a public controversy by getting involved in a deadly crash in his Ferrari. At least one person died in the car crash although the identity of the victim is not known.
There have been allegations that the case is being hushed up and the police are reluctant to provide full details. The incident added fuel to the widespread complaints about the privileged and reckless lifestyles of children of top officials. Ling, regarded as a close follower of Hu Jintao, has been trying to get a promotion to the Politburo. The demotion to the post in the United Front department, which focuses on activities of religious minorities, shows he is unlikely to achieve his ambition, sources said.
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