Xi Jinping secures unprecedented third term as China’s President with unbridled powers
Mar 10, 2023Chinese leader Xi Jinping formally secured an unprecedented third term as China’s president on Friday as he embarked on a fresh five-year tenure, becoming country's most powerful leader since Mao Zedong. In a largely ceremonial display on expected lines, nearly 3000 members of China’s rubber-stamp parliament – the National People’s Congress (NPC) voted unanimously for Xi, 69 who was the only candidate in fray.
Xi, who leads the ruling Communist Party, was also reappointed head of the national Central Military Commission. He was already the head of an identical party body overseeing the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
Delegates to the 14th NPC also elected Zhao Leji, 66 as the new chairman of the parliament and Han Zheng, 68 as China’s new vice president. Delegates at the NPC will approve China’s new premier on Saturday which is widely thought to be Xi’s closest ally Li Qiang who will replace Li Keqiang to become China's No.2 leader, in-charge of managing the world's second-largest economy.
Xi’s trusted allies will be appointed to key government roles over the next two days as the first session of the 14th NPC will come to an end on Monday.
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