Chinese President Xi Jinping waves at an event to introduce new members of the Politburo Standing Committee in Beijing on Sunday.
Andy Wong / AP
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Andy Wong / AP
Chinese President Xi Jinping waves at an event to introduce new members of the Politburo Standing Committee in Beijing on Sunday.
Andy Wong / AP
BEIJING – President Xi Jinping, China’s most powerful leader in decades, increased his dominance when he was appointed on Sunday to another term as head of the Communist Party. ruling class, broke with tradition and spurred allies to support his vision of tighter control over struggling society and economy.
Mr. Xi, who took power in 2012, was given a third five-year term as general secretary, abandoning the partisan customs left behind by his predecessor 10 years later. The 69-year-old leader is expected by some to try to stay in power for life.
On Saturday, Mr. Xi’s predecessor, 79-year-old Hu Jintao, abruptly left a meeting of the party’s Central Committee with an aide holding his arm. That raises questions about whether Mr. Xi is flexible with his power by expelling other party leaders. Xinhua news agency later reported that Hu was in poor health and needed rest.
The party also named a seven-member Standing Committee, its inner circle of power, dominated by Xi’s allies after Premier Li Keqiang, the No. market-style reforms and private enterprise, was removed from the leadership position on Saturday. . That’s even though Li is a year younger than the party’s unofficial retirement age of 68.
Xi and other Standing Committee members appeared for the first time as a group before reporters Sunday at the Great Hall of the People, the seat of China’s ceremonial legislature in central China. Beijing center.
Mr. Xi announced that Li Qiang, the former party secretary of Shanghai who had no relation to Li Keqiang, was the number 2 member, and Zhao Leji, a member of the previous committee, was promoted to number 3. The 1990s became prime minister while number 3 headed the legislature. These positions will be appointed when the legislature meets next year.
The leadership changes announced as the party wraps up its twice-decade congress are closely watched for signs of initiatives to reverse the economic slowdown or changes. Changes in the “zero-COVID” strategy have resulted in city closures and business disruptions. Officials disappointed investors and the Chinese public by announcing no changes.
The lineup seems to reflect what some commentators call “Xi max”, valuing loyalty over ability. Some new Standing Committee members lack national government experience, which is often seen as a requirement for the position.
Li Qiang’s promotion is particularly unusual as it ranks him as prime minister despite having no experience as Cabinet Minister or Deputy Prime Minister. However, he is considered close to Mr. Xi after the two worked together during their careers in Zhejiang province in the early 2000s.
Li Keqiang is the top economic official but has been pushed aside for the past decade by Mr. Xi, who places himself in charge of policy-making agencies and wants a greater state role in development. business and technology.
On Saturday, Li Keqiang was removed from the list of the party’s new 205-member Central Committee, from which the Standing Committee was selected. He will step down as prime minister next year.
