PERPETUAL POWER REGIME
President Xi Jinping gained free rein to rule for life and oppresses opponents.
AFP – BEIJING
Monday, 12 March 2018
The president bowed Xi Jinping (right) celebrates the Parliament vote.
Photo: Reuters
The National People's Congress of China yesterday abolished the limit imposed until now on presidential terms, leaving the way clear for President Xi Jinping to impose his long-term vision of a world superpower subject to the Communist Party.
Xi Jinping, of 64 years, becomes the most powerful Chinese president for at least a quarter of a century, and will be able to remain at the reins of the Asian giant beyond the expected term of office. 2023.
A total of 2.958 of the almost 3.000 delegates of the National Popular Assembly (ANP) They approved the measure without surprises as part of a package of constitutional reforms. There were only two votes against and three abstentions..
Until now, presidential terms were limited to two five-year terms.. A two-thirds majority was required to modify this rule..
The amendment also introduces “Xi Jinping Thought” into the Constitution” and , in your first article, “the leading role” of the Chinese Communist Party (PCC).
This provision may hint at a worsening of repression against opponents of the regime., who could be accused of attacking the Constitution simply for criticizing the control of the PCC.
Personality cult
Xi Jinping, of 64 years, the most powerful leader
chino, is the subject of a propaganda that presents it
as an infallible leader. Xi is omnipresent in the media
and rule with an iron fist. His round face inspires
pranks with Winnie the Pooh. In fact, on social networks
Comments on this bear are blocked in China.
Carrera
Since he took charge of the PCC, at the end of 2012, and the state, at the beginning of 2013, Xi Jinping has been increasing the authority of the regime. Herald of the “great renaissance of the Chinese nation”, Xi seeks to embody the revenge of a modern and respected superpower against the West to 2050,
But individual freedoms are still not granted in exchange. A law severely represses dissent on the internet and strong sentences have been ordered against human rights defenders.
The bill, announced two weeks ago, shocked a part of public opinion, but the censors were in charge of deleting the criticism that circulated for a time on social networks.
The two-term limit was imposed in the Constitution of 1982 by the leader of that time, Deng Xiaoping, to avoid a return to the dictatorial regime of the Mao Zedong era (1949-1976).
“Forty-two years later, in the age of the internet and globalization, A new Great Leader emerges in China, a new Mao-style tyrant”, denounced the dissident Hu Jia, when asked by phone by the AFP agency, from the south of the country, where the regime took him on a “forced vacation”.
“This alleged popular assembly has nothing to do with the will of the people”, insisted.
“Xi Jinping directs major works, the fight against corruption… There was a consensus to give him time to accomplish his task.", dijo por su parte Dou Yanli, Shandong deputy.
“For the West (this change) may seem like a step back. But China is focused on the ultimate goal and how to achieve it.", urged Li Peiling, Hubei deputy (center), who considers that a “powerful” leader is needed” and immovable to “long-lastingly sweep away corruption and impose reforms”.
Many observers see the anti-corruption campaign as a means for Xi to oust domestic opponents.. But that made him lose the sympathy of many managers., which might explain why he tries to stay in power as long as possible.
THE “MAO”” OF THE 21ST CENTURY
All positions of the Chinese leader
Xi Jinping is called the “president of everything”” for its ability to accumulate charges. Some of them are:
- General Secretary of the Communist Party. It is the most important position in China, where “the leading role” of the Chinese Communist Party (PCC) is inscribed in the Constitution.
- President of the People's Republic. This symbolic position grants the Chinese leader a protocol rank equivalent to that of foreign heads of state.. Xi has occupied it since March 2013.
- Presidente de la Comisión Militar Central. “Power is at the edge of the gun”, as Mao said. In this position, Xi Jinping has controlled the Chinese armies since 2012.
- President of working groups. He has under his orders several working groups dedicated to national security and cyberspace., economy and finance.
- Lingxiu (boss). This expression began to appear in the media last year. Until now, only intended for Mao.
- Thinker. Yesterday Parliament included in the Constitution the “Xi Jinping Thought on Chinese-style socialism of the new era” as a concept to be followed by the nation.
