A third five-year term as president of China was granted to leader Xi Jinping on Friday, putting him on pace to hold the position for the rest of his life.
The ceremonial National People’s Congress’ approval of Xi’s appointment was inevitable for a leader who, since assuming office in 2012, has marginalised possible competitors and stuffed the upper levels of the ruling Communist Party with his friends. The NPC, whose members are chosen by the ruling party, voted in favour of Xi 2,952 to 0.
Xi, 69, had himself named to a third five-year term as party general secretary in October, breaking with a tradition under which Chinese leaders handed over power once a decade. A two-term limit on the figurehead presidency was deleted from the Chinese constitution earlier, prompting suggestions he might stay in power for life.
No candidate lists were distributed and Xi and others were believed to have run unopposed. For the most part, the election process remains shrouded in secrecy.
Xi was also unanimously named commander of the 2 million-member People’s Liberation Army, a force that explicitly that takes its orders from the party rather than the country.