Latest update: 08/11/2012 

- China - Communist parties - corruption - government - Hu Jintao


A new chapter for China's ruling Communist Party?

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With Chinese President Hu Jintao retiring, the ruling Communist Party is in turmoil. The Bo Xilai scandal has revealed the internal divisions. But at the grass-roots level, few outsiders really know how the Party operates. It is the biggest political organisation in the world, counting 82.6 million members in 2011 - more than the entire population of Germany. Though the Party has evolved over the years and is longer seen as Maoist, it still criticised, mainly over corruption.

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By Henry MORTON / Joris ZYLBERMAN
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