State-owned media have stepped up their attack on Western democracy, targeting the United States in particular with accusations of corruption and lack of real democracy.

The Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily said Western democracy worshipped money and was “fed by money”.

“Wall Street is so powerful that it can hold the [US] Congress hostage and get bills in its favour passed,” the article said.

Citing the global financial crisis that started in 2008, the newspaper said that the problematic financial systems that led to the crisis were created by “institutional corruption” on a massive scale.

The publication of the article coincided with a European visit by Premier Wen Jiabao , where he warned that the global financial crisis was not over and technical innovation and investment would be key to sustaining a “tortuous” recovery.

The article claimed US democracy was only partial and people could only exert their rights within…