Small step forward

The expulsion of a local people's con-gress deputy on charges of misappropriating public funds may be a small step, but certainly no great leap forward, as far as electoral democracy is concerned.

Mi Xiaodong was stripped of his duties after more than 6,000 voters in Xupu county in central China's Hunan province pushed for his ouster. Of course, this time the move was backed by the local people's congress.

Mi's eviction would hardly have been possible without the avowed support of the local congress although the rights of voters are stated explicitly in the laws governing elections.