Xi Jinping, one step away from consolidating his power at an important moment for China

China heads to the biggest event of its domestic policy this Sunday; the 20th National Congress of the Communist Partya landmark appointment that will introduce changes at the top of the government and enable the president of the Asian giant, Xi Jinping, to win a third term and consolidate his power in uncertain times for Beijing.

So the one that has been considered one of China’s most powerful leaders for decades will be the start of a congress that comes at a challenging time, with China sticking to its strict health policy to tackle the coronavirus and a geopolitical stance on it. of Russia distancing it from the West.

However, and with the approval of the party leadership, everything indicates that Xi will extend his mandate and he will not pass the baton to a possible successor, as was customary in the past when the head of state celebrated a decade in power.

The National Congress, the meeting that outline of the next five years of the country’s political, social, economic and cultural life, takes place every five years and lasts about a week.

Generally held in October or November, it is attended by some 2,300 delegates pre-elected by party members and from all corners of the country, only about a quarter of whom are women, while 11% are from ethnic minorities.

There are three circles of power in this hierarchy: Some 400 deputies also belong to the elite Central Committee, which in turn includes the 25 members of the Politburo, the decision-making body of the top leaders, and the Standing Committee, which are usually formed by a number ranging between five and nine high positions. Members of the Politburo are mostly ethnic Han, the majority in China.

While Xi is expected to be reappointed as the party’s general secretary, his third term as head of state will not be reconfirmed for practical reasons until elections are formalized. next march.

This year’s congress presents another special feature. It will decide the future of the Prime Minister of the country, Li Keqiang, who has already announced his retirement but will also have to wait until March to leave his position permanently.

However, there is already speculation about the sequencewith a list of names such as the chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Wang Yang, 67, or Deputy Prime Minister Hu Chunhua, 59.