Xi Jinping Reappointed as President of China, Solidifying His Control as Longest-Serving Head of State Since 1949

Beijing – Chinese leader Xi Jinping was officially reappointed as president for a third five-year term on Friday, solidifying his control and making him the longest-serving head of state of Communist China since its founding in 1949.

The endorsement of Xi’s appointment by the ceremonial National People’s Congress was a foregone conclusion for a leader who has sidelined potential rivals and filled the top ranks of the ruling Communist Party with his supporters since taking power in 2012.

The reappointment of Xi, China’s most powerful and authoritarian leader in decades, was largely seen as a formality, after the 69-year-old secured a norm-shattering third term as head of the Chinese Communist Party in October.

The vote took place in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, a highly choreographed exercise in political theater meant to demonstrate the legitimacy and unity of the ruling elite.

Xi’s reappointment has raised concerns about the future of China’s political system, which has long been based on the idea of collective leadership and the orderly transfer of power. His move to stay in power for life has been seen as a sign of increasing authoritarianism in the country.

The Chinese people have largely welcomed Xi’s leadership, which has been credited with bringing stability and economic growth to the country. However, his tenure has also been marked by a crackdown on civil liberties and a growing sense of nationalism.