gets a third term and full control of the Politburo

The supreme leader takes it all at the end of the 20th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party. Loyalty to him is chosen over his real abilities, especially in the economic field. The next prime minister will be Li Qiang: during the lockdowns he left millions of Shanghainese without food.

Beijing () – Xi Jinping crushes all forms of internal opposition: he has secured a third term as head of the country, which brings him closer to historical figures such as Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping, and lays the groundwork to prolong his tenure even further in the power. Besides the supreme leader, only his allies make up the Standing Committee of the Politburo (Political Bureau), the real decision-making body of the regime.

From the composition of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, unveiled yesterday at the end of its 20th Congress, it was already clear that Xi had won on all fronts. Current Premier Li Keqiang and Wang Yang, leading members of the Communist Youth League, Hu Jintao’s faction, were excluded. In full view of television cameras, Xi’s predecessor was dragged out of the congress hall yesterday. Officially, the gesture is said to have been due to a “health problem”; but more than one observer believes that it was a maneuver to “punish” the old guard.

With this morning’s announcement, Xi maintains his position as Party General Secretary and head of the Central Military Commission. In March, during its annual session, the National Popular Assembly (ANP) will sanction his re-election to the country’s presidency, along with other important government officials.

From the way Xi introduced the new members of the Politburo Standing Committee, one can speculate on what their future roles will be. The party’s number two becomes Li Qiang, secretary of the Shanghai PCC: he will be the new prime minister. Zhao Leiji, confirmed in the organ, will probably lead the ANC. In the hierarchical scale, the new number four is Wang Huning (also confirmed), who will lead the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

Cai Qi, secretary of the CCP in Beijing, will be the new head of the Party Secretariat. Li Xi, Party Secretary in Guangdong, is appointed as head of the powerful Disciplinary Commission. He completes the list with Ding Xuexiang, a close associate of Xi.

Xi has put loyalty to his person before his effective capabilities, especially in the economic field. He draws attention to his appointment as prime minister of Li Qiang, criticized for his management of the closure of Shanghai, when millions of inhabitants ran out of food in the spring. One of his potential rivals on the eve of the Congress, current Vice Premier Hu Chunhua, was not even included in the 24-member Politburo, the Party’s second-highest body.