State media urges Party unity after Bo's downfall

State media urged unity among the Chinese Communist Party’s top brass following a decision by the Central Committee to suspend Bo Xilai from the Politburo, Bloomberg reported. “Bo has seriously violated Party discipline, causing damage to the cause and the image of the Party and state,” said a front-page article in People’s Daily, a mouthpiece of the CCP. The decision to remove Bo was “completed in accordance with our Party’s fundamental requirement of strict Party governance” and demonstrates the “firm determination of maintaining its own purity,” the editorial said. Bo, former party secretary of the Chongqing municipality, had achieved some degree of popular support for his anti-corruption campaigns in the city. Support remains even after the announcement of his suspension; the “red song” troupes encouraged by Bo continued as usual in Chongqing on Wednesday.