The current Politburo Standing Committee has seven members. In the power shakeup, Li Keqiang is due to step down as premier - a position that ranks second in the Politburo Standing Committee after the party general secretary. Although Li's predecessor Wen Jiabao left the standing committee completely after finishing his premiership, there was at least one precedent in which the ex-premier stayed in the ruling body to play a new role. A few names have been floated as probable candidates, including CPPCC chairman and standing committee member Wang Yang, vice premier Hu Chunhua and Shanghai party secretary Li Qiang. This will then elect 25 to the Politburo which, in turn, will appoint the next Politburo Standing Committee, which will be unveiled on Sunday.

Source: The Standard October 21, 2022 07:15 UTC