Grandpa dollars

If you’re impressed, these days, by the corruption figures that filter surveys conducted in Montreal, Laval and elsewhere in Quebec, well, add them at least three zeros, and then ébahissez you the last scoop of the New York Times, on the fortune of the family of the Chinese Prime Minister, Wen Jiabao.

It would be at least $ 2.7 billion. A turnover rondelet, cornered in the last decade – the years of the Hu Jintao-Wen Jiabao tandem, in power since 2002, and on the eve of the hand – by a handful of people who have used family relays to make a fortune in banking, insurance, telecommunications, jewelry…

Among the most skilled members of this family late with the head for business: Mr Wen – himself age of 70 years old MOM – would have accumulated at least $ 100 million in financial services. As for his wife, Zhang Beili, it now carries the poetic nickname ‘Queen of diamonds ‘.

The impressive army of censors Internet – they are at least 40,000 in China – was mobilized right out of the New York Times article, which is said by the way, broadcasts for four months a mandarin edition. Among the keywords and phrases banned since 1972 hours on Net Chinese: ‘the treasure of Wen’, ‘Queen of diamonds’, ’2.7′ (the Chinese are fond of Numerology), ‘clan + Wen’ combinations ‘Grandpa + rich’ (Wen is affectionately known as “Grandpa” in China), etc.

The journal survey also concealing the names of the beneficiaries of these investments. In the documents, which the New York Times obtained copies, the names of the brothers, mother, daughter and other relatives of Mr. Wen–a dozen people in total – usually disappear behind those of Associates, friends or spouses… Although “family stream” is clearly evident when considering all these documents.

***

This case does add a layer to the scandals that splash the Beijing regime, while it prepares, on 8 November, to open – late and in a noxious atmosphere – the 18th Congress of the Communist Party of China.

It hurts even more that Wen Jiabao, for ten years, is precisely the one who wears the hat of the “reformist” in China, Which calls for the democratization of the regime to the establishment of the rule of law… and who, Yes, Yes, ton regularly against ambient corruption! Wen, it is also the “humanist”: one who shakes hands and takes the baby in his arms, who will cry, before the cameras, with the victims of the horrible earthquake in Sichuan in 2008.

“Grandpa Wen”, it’s the Stooges ‘democratic’ plan remained closed, brutal, dictatorial, a regime that chasing dissidents and attempt – but more difficult – to lock information. A system of mandarins to face closed, dyed hair and ‘opening’ which does not extend beyond that of the portfolios.

This is Yu Jie, a dissident now in exile, who should be well laugh. In 2010, he had published in Hong Kong a paper (banned in mainland China) Wen Jiabao: the best player in China. According to him, ‘liberalism’ of Wen was only eye candy: a bit of populism internally, coupled with a hint of democratic rhetoric for naive Westerners.

Another mandarin – in fact, an ‘ex’, because it is now outlawed and was arrested – is preparing him to stand trial. A trial that will crown this annus horribilis of the Chinese leadership with the 18th Congress. Bo Xilai, the former boss of Chongqing, promised the greatest looking before falling sharply, spring 2012, in a history of murder and settling, was a sworn enemy of Wen Jiabao.

Friends of Bo would have passed to the New York Times the incriminating documents to the Wen family? The hypothesis runs. In the secret and stifling atmosphere surrounding China, hard to know. And his trial, highly political, will take place behind closed doors, the verdict is decided in advance.

But today, one has the impression that the mandarins of Beijing no longer control everything, and they look behind them with some concern.