China scraps term limits, clears path for Xi to rule indefinitely
- Erica Pandey, author of Axios Finish Line
President Xi Jinping arrives to a session of the National People's Congress. Photo: Kevin Frayer / Getty Images
China's National People's Congress overwhelmingly passed a constitutional amendment to eliminate presidential term limits, paving the way for President Xi Jinping to stay in power after his second term ends in 2023. The vote was as follows, per the AFP's Joanna Chiu: 2958 in favor, 2 against, 3 abstentions, 1 invalid vote.
Why it matters, according to Axios contributor Bill Bishop: Xi is working to obliterate any boundaries between party and state and to reinsert the Communist Party of China (CPC) into all aspects of China's economy and society — all while ensuring he's the unchallenged embodiment of the CPC. The end result will be Xi's complete dominion over all parts of Chinese government and society.