China: Xi Jinping secures full powers at the end of the 20th Communist Party Congress – Le Monde

Former President Hu Jintao is pressured to leave the closing ceremony of the 20th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, while Xi Jinping (right) remains impassive, in Beijing, October 22, 2022. NOEL CELIS / AFP Many observers expected that Xi Jinping emerges even stronger from the 20th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) which was held from October 16 to 22. Few had expected the Chinese number one to break so many taboos and so explicitly manifest his omnipotence. Xi Jinping presented on Sunday, October 23 the seven members of the standing committee of the political bureau of the CPC, the seven leaders of the country, as the new central committee had appointed them in the morning (205 members). Unsurprisingly, Xi Jinping remains Secretary General. Following, in protocol order, Li Qiang, hitherto General Secretary of the Party in Shanghai, who will no doubt be Prime Minister, Zhao Leji, responsible for the fight against corruption and discipline, Wang Huning, hitherto responsible for the ideology, Cai Qi, current secretary general of the city of Beijing, Ding Xuexiang, who is the director of the central office of the CCP but also of the presidency of the Republic and therefore the right arm of Xi Jinping, and Li Xi, until then Secretary of Guangdong Province. The distribution of roles within the standing committee has not been specified. Li Qiang, Li Xi, Ding Xuexiang and Cai Qi make their entry into this cenacle. Many believed that Li Qiang, responsible for Shanghai’s much-contested Covid-19 management, would not be rewarded. Obviously, his closeness to Xi Jinping prevailed. “Very bellicose” clique Xi Jinping who, like his predecessors, combines the functions of President of the Republic, General Secretary of the CPC and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, had broken a taboo in 2018 by modifying the Constitution to be able to exercise more than two presidential terms and therefore remain in power as long as he wishes. But, until now, it was unclear whether the age limit continued to apply to other leaders. Since 2002, a rule prevailed within the leadership of the Party: you could still be promoted at 67 but had to retire at the Congress following your 68th birthday. A way to avoid, after the excesses of Maoism, that a man stays too long in power and calls into question the collective direction exercised by the seven members of the permanent committee of the political bureau, true masters of the country. The answer fell on Saturday 22, with the appointment by the congress of the 205 members of the central committee, this body which appoints within it the twenty-five members of the political bureau and within it, the famous seven members of the permanent committee. . The rule “at 67 you stay, at 68 you leave” no longer applies. You have 71.72% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.