Xinhua Commentary Criticizes FormalismChina's official news agency Xinhua released a special commentary Tuesday exposing the harm of formalism and calling for resolute efforts to get rid of the bureaucratic style.For a long time, some localities have favored formalism, that is, cooking official accounts and exaggerating their working performances, and this has had a very bad influence on society, the commentary says. Despite the various forms it may take, formalism actually stems from a deviation from Party policies, and from the individualism that exists among some leading officials. These officials often hope that through boasting and exaggerating their performances they will impress their superiors and thereby gain promotions to higher positions. "Formalism has gravely undermined the relationship between the Party and the people, and between the government and the masses, sullying the image of the Party and the government," the commentary notes. To combat formalism, it is first of all imperative to straighten out the line of thinking of officials, according to the commentary. Seeking truth from facts has been the line of thinking of the Party, and it is by sticking to this line that the Party has overcome many difficulties in leading the nation forward. Formalism is just the opposite. In the process, leading officials should take a lead, and democracy should be given full play, the commentary stresses. |
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