Xi becomes China's leader-for-life as Parliament removes term limit
March 11, 2018  13:44
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JUST IN: China's Parliament passes constitutional changes that abolish term limits to let President Xi Jinping rule indefinitely.

Ahead of the vote by about 3,000 deputies in the National People's Congress (NPC) -  China's legislature - on the amendment to remove the term limit for the President and Vice President, the seven member Standing Committee - the top most body of the ruling Communist Party of China - has unanimously approved the amendment.

"Every one of us on the NPC Standing Committee approves and supports amending Constitution," Chairman of the NPC, Zhang Dejiang, said in his work report.

The term limits were being followed by the party leaders for over two decades to avert a dictatorship on the lines of party founder Chairman Mao Zedong and to ensure collective leadership in the one-party state.

The constitutional amendment will remove the hurdle for 64-year-old Xi to become leader of China for life. He is currently in his second five-year term and due to retire in 2023 under the current two term system.

Xi is regarded as the most powerful leader of China after Mao as he held the posts of head of the CPC, the military and the Presidency, which is mostly ceremonial.  -- Agencies
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