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<\/p>\nChina sought on Sunday to downplay the Communist Party\u2019s move to scrap presidential term limits, a decision that could pave the way for Xi Jinping to remain president for life.<\/p>\n
The National People\u2019s Congress (NPC), China\u2019s rubber-stamp parliament, will vote on March 11 on constitutional amendments which include the scrapping of a rule limiting the top leader to two five-year terms.<\/p>\n
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The Great Hall. File photo: Lukas Messmer\/HKFP.<\/p>\n
NPC spokesman Zhang Yesui told a news conference that the move will merely align the presidency with the titles of Communist Party general secretary and Military Commission chairman, which do not have term limits.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is conducive to uphold the authority of the Central Committee of the party with comrade Xi Jinping at the core and also to unify leadership,\u201d Zhang said on the eve of the opening of the NPC\u2019s annual session.<\/p>\n
Zhang revealed that the party\u2019s Central Committee proposed the constitutional amendments, which include adding Xi\u2019s eponymous political guidelines to the country\u2019s charter, in January.<\/p>\n
But the decision was first made public on February 25 in a report by the official Xinhua news agency.<\/p>\n
The announcement sparked a rare bout of public criticism, prompting censors to work furiously to stamp out dissenting posts on social media.<\/p>\n
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Xi Jinping. File Photo: FCO.<\/p>\n
Xi has consolidated power since taking office as party chief in 2012 but the move to lift presidential term limits surprised even the most experienced China watchers.<\/p>\n
China\u2019s late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping championed a system of \u201ccollective\u201d leadership to prevent a return of the chaotic years under Mao Zedong\u2019s one-man rule from 1949 to his death in 1976.<\/p>\n
The presidential term limits were engraved in the state constitution in 1982.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe constitution must adapt to the changing circumstances, include new experiences, reflect new achievements and lay out new guidelines to remain relevant,\u201d Zhang said.<\/p>\n
\u201cRevising the constitution is certainly a big event in the country\u2019s political life and it is also a major legislative activity that will have wide-ranging implications.\u201d<\/p>\n
US President Donald Trump had his own views on Xi\u2019s power play on Saturday, according to audio from a closed-door Florida fundraiser at his Mar-a-Lago resort published by news outlet CNN.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s now president for life,\u201d the 71-year-old US president said, eliciting chuckles from the crowd of Republican donors. \u201cAnd look, he was able to do that. I think it\u2019s great.\u201d<\/p>\n
He garnered even more laughs when he quipped: \u201cMaybe we\u2019ll have to give that a shot some day.\u201d<\/p>\n
The post China downplays lifting of presidential term limit<\/a> appeared first on Hong Kong Free Press HKFP<\/a>. Author: AFP<\/a>.<\/p>\n