politics - Wen foresees direct elections in China

Just as with the floating of the Chinese currency, Wen Jiabao's announcement the country is moving to direct elections might take a while, here according to Reuters.

"If the Chinese people can manage a village, I believe in several years they can manage a township. That would be an evolving system."

The problem of that grassroot election system is that it does not expand very fast. Wen's announcement might signal a change in speed, at best.