They were not elected for being engineers, but because of their careers in the party (just as Angela Merkel wasn't elected because of her PhD, politics don't work like that). Article, at least as I understood it, is about the respect that society gives to an ordinary engineer. Is it considered prestigious to be engineer by common people or they view it as just a little better than being a technician or factory worker. I'm not very familiar with China, but I live in an ex-communist country and this resonates with me a lot. Here, back in time of socialism, your mom wouldn't impress any of her friends with your engineering diploma, but for instance if you were a doctor that was a big deal, you were a respected member of society. Have no idea why, I guess it has to do something with the whole "working class" idea of communism that insists on all workers being treated as equal.
AFAIK in the USSR attractiveness of a profession was largely determined by two factors. First, is it possible to take bribes. Second, can one get hands on products that are in short supply. Doctors fall into the first category. Shop workers and sailors (two highly desirable professions in the USSR!) fall into the second. Engineers seem to fall into neither.
