Constitutional revision could put Xi beyond two-term leadership
February 26, 2018, 9:08 am

Xi has increased anti-corruption campaigns while also focusing on poverty eradication [Xinhua]

The CPC Central Committee wants to revisit the paragraph which states:
“The term of office of the President and Vice-President of the People’s Republic of China is the same as that of the National People’s Congress, and they shall serve no more than two consecutive terms”.

It has proposed changing this to: “The term of office of the President and Vice-President of the People’s Republic of China is the same as that of the National People’s Congress.”

Removal of the two-term restriction leaves the question of term duration open.

If implemented, this would give current President Xi Jinping an opportunity to continue to lead the country beyond his current mandate termination in 2022.

The Central Committee says that this change is necessary because “the leadership of the Communist Party of China is the defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics”.

The Central Committee also proposed writing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era into the national constitution alongside the schools of thought of Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping.

The proposed constitutional amendments come four months after the 19th National Congress of the CPC concluded with its 2,000 delegates inserting Xi Jinping “Thought” into the party’s constitution, effectively making the president the most powerful man in China.

Xi Jinping Thought is the president’s principles on the CPC’s contribution in governance and includes issues of development and reform.

The BRICS Post with inputs from Agencies