BEIJING, Sept 9 (Reuters) – China’s ruling Communist Party will amend its constitution next month in a five-year leadership reshuffle, a move some analysts said could consolidate power and President Xi Jinping’s stature within the party. State-run Xinhua news agency reported on Friday that the Politburo discussed a draft amendment to the party’s constitution at a meeting chaired by Xi, without specifying the changes. Xi is widely expected to break precedent at the congress that starts on October 16 and secure a third five-year leadership term, cementing his status as China’s most powerful leader since Mao Zedong, the founder of the People’s Republic. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSign up The party’s constitution was last amended in 2017 to enshrine “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics,” a move that killed Xi’s position. Political observers say one possibility is an amendment that shortens the ideology to “Xi Jinping Thought,” upgrading its stature to that of “Mao Tse-Tung Thought.” Another possible change that could also be seen as an elevation of Xi’s power would be the enshrining of the “Two Establishments,” a recent phrase meaning the party establishes Xi as its “core” and his ideas as its guiding principles. . Less likely, some experts have suggested that the constitution could bring back the top post of party chairman, which was abolished in 1982. The party constitution can only be amended during the congress once every five years. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSign up Reporting by Yew Lun Tian Editing by Louise Heavens Editing by Tony Munroe Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
