Beijing's mayor and a deputy mayor resigned yesterday in what is likely a routine reshuffle after the municipal party congress.
But the change in leadership comes amid a public outcry of the government's handling of rainstorms in the capital that left at least 37 people dead.
State-run media reported that Wang Anshun was appointed as acting mayor after Guo Jinlong tendered his resignation. Deputy mayor Ji Lin also stepped down.
The moves were not unexpected. Guo, 65, was promoted to Beijing party secretary at the municipal party congress on July 3. Wang, 55, was promoted to first deputy party secretary, while Ji was elevated to second deputy.
Analysts called the reshuffle routine. It is standard practice that the positions of party secretary and mayor should not be held by the same person. The same applies to the positions of political and legal commission chief and deputy mayors.
'It is just a normal exercise conducted after the municipal party congress and it has nothing to do with the rainstorms,' said Zhang Ming, a political science professor at Renmin University. 'But it was announced after the rainstorm, triggering speculation over whether Guo stepped down because of them.'
Zhu Lijia , from the Chinese Academy of Governance, said the reshuffle had been decided after the municipal party congress concluded. 'It was an anticipated move to appoint the first deputy party secretary as mayor,' he said.
