Heated Congressional Debates Indicate Differences about Social Interests

From the very beginning, people have sensed a strong "smell of gunpowder" in and out of this year's sessions of National People's Congress (NPC) and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), as participants and the public have been involved in heated debates on some topics.

On March 7, NPC deputy Lu Zushan, also governor of Zhejiang Province, questioned deputies from local education departments, demanding "I'm asking you, do you want to reform (on education system) and dare you?"

In response, Wang Jianhua, Party chief of Shaoxing University in Zhejiang, said "We don't have decision-making power, and all we can do is obey official orders."

Other proposals and remarks by NPC deputies and CPPCC members, such as "all private Internet bars should be closed" "people who cannot afford to buy houses shouldn't blame the government" and "the success of medical reform will be a tragedy for the nation's people" have been bombarded with criticism by netizens.

Many netizens questioned "on whose behalf" the deputies were acting.

Li Yingfeng, a newspaper commentator, said NPC deputies and CPPCC members from different social classes, experiences, and educational backgrounds would definitely stand on their own side to defend their interests.

"Part of their expression may be unpleasant to hear, however it will draw public attention to certain problems and help us to find a solution to them," Li said, adding that freedom of speech is a basic requirement in a democratic society.