BEIJING – China’s parliament passed on Sunday a series of constitutionalamendments, including one that removes presidential term limits, allowingPresident Xi Jinping to remain in office indefinitely.
The announcement of the vote, witnessed by reporters in the Great Hall ofthe People, passed with two “no” votes and three abstentions among almost3,000 delegates.
China’s ruling Communist Party proposed the amendment last month and therewas never any doubt it would pass as parliament is packed with loyal partymembers who would not have opposed the proposal.
In the run-up to the vote, critics on social media attacked the move anddrew parallels to North Korea or suggested a Mao Zedong-type cult ofpersonality was forming. But the government quickly mounted a propagandapush, blocking some articles and publishing pieces praising the party.
The party loyalists who attend the annual session of parliament have saidthe decision is popular with ordinary Chinese people and asserted thatChina was lucky to have a leader of President Xi’s caliber.
Xi began his second five-year term as party chief in October and at the endof the week will be formally appointed by parliament.
The limit of two five-year presidential terms was written into China’sconstitution after Mao’s death in 1976 by Deng Xiaoping, who recognised thedangers of one-man rule and the cult of personality and instead espousedcollective leadership.
The government has said lifting the term limits is about protecting theauthority of the party with Xi at its centre. The party’s official People’sDaily has said this does not mean life-long terms.
The party gave Xi the title of “core” leader in 2016, a significantstrengthening of his position at the time. Agencies