Former Chongqing mayor Huang Qifan has been reported to have fallen from grace following a disciplinary investigation by the Chinese Communist Party. The Chongqing Municipal Party Committee released a statement on Tuesday affirming its support for the central government’s decision to conduct a disciplinary review and supervisory investigation into Huang for alleged serious violations of discipline and law. The committee described the action as a clear signal of zero tolerance for corruption and a commitment to purging “toxic” influences from the city’s political environment. Huang, 74, retired from public office in 2018 after more than a decade of service in Chongqing. He previously held the position of party secretary on six separate occasions, succeeding leaders such as He Guoqiang, Huang Zhen, Wang Yang, Bo Xilai, Zhang Dejiang and Sun Zhengcai. He survived the political upheavals that followed the investigations of Bo Xilai in 2012 and Sun Zhengcai in 2017, earning a reputation as a resilient political figure. The committee’s statement emphasized that senior officials must guard all aspects of their conduct—political, power, interpersonal, lifestyle, and family ties—and exercise strict oversight over relatives and close associates. It urged leaders to maintain a clean personal and professional record. Speculation about the reasons for Huang’s investigation has circulated in the media. Some reports suggest a possible link to recent probes of Chongqing financial officials. In April, former director of the Chongqing Financial Work Office Ruan Lu was detained, and in the preceding month, chairman of Chongqing Yufu Holdings Xie Wenhui and former chairman of Southwest Securities Wu Jian were also investigated. Others claim that Huang’s post‑retirement public commentary on economic matters, which has been described as “high‑profile,” may have upset certain parties. No official charges or specific allegations have been released. The investigation remains ongoing.
Article and image source: Sing Tao Electronic Daily