China sets stage for Xi to stay in office indefinitely
China's ruling Communist Party on Sunday set the stage for President Xi
Jinping to stay in office indefinitely, with a proposal to remove a
constitutional clause limiting presidential service to just two terms in
office.
Xi, 64, is currently required by the country's constitution to step down as
president after two five-year terms. Nearing the end of his first term, he will
be formally elected to a second at the annual meeting of China's largely
rubber-stamp parliament opening on March 5.
There is no limit on his tenure as the party and military chief, though a
maximum 10-year term is the norm. He began his second term as head of the party
and military in October at the end of a once-every-five-years party
congress.
The announcement, carried by state news agency Xinhua, gave few details. It
said the proposal had been made by the party's Central Committee, the largest of
its elite ruling bodies. The proposal also covers the vice president
position.
"The Communist Party of China Central Committee proposed to remove the
expression that the President and Vice-President of the People's Republic of
China 'shall serve no more than two consecutive terms' from the country's
Constitution," Xinhua said.
The Central Committee also proposed inserting "Xi Jinping Thought on
Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era" into the constitution,
Xinhua said in a separate report, referring to Xi's guiding political thought
that is already in the arguably more important Communist Party constitution.
Constitutional reform needs to be approved by parliament. That is stacked
with members chosen for their loyalty to the party, meaning the reform will not
be blocked.
There has been persistent speculation that Xi wants to stay on in office past
the customary two five-year terms.
One of his closest political allies, former top graft buster Wang Qishan,
stepped down from the party's Standing Committee - the seven-man body that runs
China - in October.
Aged 69, Wang had reached the age at which top officials tend to retire. But
he has been chosen as a parliament delegate this year and is likely to become
vice president, sources with ties to the leadership and diplomats say.
The move is significant because if Wang does not retire, that could set a
precedent for Xi to stay on in power after he completes the traditional two
terms in office.
However, the role of party chief is more senior than that of president. At
some point Xi could be given a party position that also enables him to stay on
as long as he likes.
Source: Rueters
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