ADVERTISEMENTXi, 64, has consolidated power since taking office as general secretary of the Communist Party in 2012 — his most important title, which has no term limits but which his two predecessors both gave up after two terms. The legislation is expected to easily secure the two-thirds of votes needed to pass in the legislature, which has never voted down a Communist Party diktat in its half-century of existence. Secret pathThe Communist Party, which says the move merely aligns the presidency with the limit-free titles of party and military chief, claims “the masses” unanimously called for the removal of term limits. The party later disclosed that Xi had presided over a meeting of the Politburo in September during which the leadership decided to revise the constitution. The party then sought proposals and opinions, culminating in a decision in late January to introduce constitutional amendments at the NPC.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 10, 2018 21:11 UTC