China mulls equal ratio of rural, urban lawmakers

Beijing, March 8 (IANS) China will elect deputies to its top legislature next year in a ratio same as that for populations in rural and urban areas, according to a draft law tabled for deliberation Thursday.

For the first time, the quota of 2,000 deputies to the 12th National People’s Congress (NPC) will be given to urban and rural residents based on the same population ratio.
“NPC deputies are the component members of the highest organ of state power who represent the interests and will of the people, pursuant to the law, in the exercise of state power,” said Li Jianguo, vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee.
The election of deputies to the 12th NPC will be completed in January 2013, two months prior to the five-year term of the 11th NPC ending in March 2013, Xinhua reported.
“The greatest feature of the election lies in the adoption of election of deputies to the people’s congresses based on the same population ratio in urban and rural areas,” Li said while explaining the draft law to a plenary meeting of the NPC annual session.
Success in the election will be of extreme importance to developing socialist democratic politics, enhancing the building of state power and ensuring that the people are the masters of the country, Li said.
“It will also help assimilate the wisdom and strength of all sectors, promote development by a scientific approach and enhance social harmony,” he added.
Some deputy seats will be reserved by the NPC Standing Committee to ensure that each ethnic group, no matter how small its population is, can have at least one seat at the NPC, according to the document.