Of the 30,315 officials punished in China for corruption last year, 95 percent were found to have had mistresses, according to a recent study out of Renmin University’s Crisis Management Research Center.
The study also found that for 60 percent of the punished officials, corruption and infidelity were somehow related.
In a February 13 editorial, state mouthpiece People’s Daily hit out at what it termed “a minority of Party members” whose womanizing ways have turned Valentine’s Day into a “breeding ground” for corruption.
The editorial promised serious consequences if these officials did not reform their “decadent” lifestyles.
Last week, it was announced that Li Qingshan, a senior Party member from Liaoning Province, had been placed under investigation for, among other offenses, building four villas to house his wife and four mistresses.
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More from the Renmin University report:
Researchers examined two dozen 2012 corruption case histories that followed the now-familiar trajectory from online accusation to disciplinary action.
Most of the 24 officials analyzed in the study were 50 or older. Also, most held a rank of county-level Party secretary or higher.
Thirteen of the 24 cases occurred during the last three months of 2012.
After allegations were posted online, authorities took anywhere from 12 hours to 40 days to remove the accused officials from their posts.
“In the era of new media, the speed and range of information dissemination has altered. The maintenance of the image of the government and its officials faces huge challenges,” said Tan Jun, director of the Crisis Management Research Center.
Sources: Shijiazhuang Daily (石家庄日报), Beijing Evening News (北京晚报), Qilu Evening News (齐鲁晚报)
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A version of this post appeared in the China Compliance Digest. For a limited time, subscribers to China Compliance Digest will receive the China Anti-Corruption Handbook (normally $750) and FCPA Blog membership (normally $495) at no extra charge. Details are here.
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