Three Communist Party cadres receive promotions crucial to China’s power transitions next year
Three cadres with links to the top leadership are given new roles in a move seen as a prelude to next year’s Communist Party National Congress
About 18 months away from the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party, three cadres with links to the top leadership recently received important promotions, including two being named provincial governors.
The appointments were crucial to next year’s power transition, midway through the present term of President Xi Jinping (習近平) and Premier Li Keqiang (李克強), and the appointees all stood a good chance of being promoted further during the party congress, said Chen Daoyin, an associate professor at Shanghai University of Political Science and Law.
“The year before Xi’s second term [as party general secretary] starts is crucial for cadres’ appointments and could be seen as a prelude for next year’s reshuffle,” he said. “The appointments would look too rushed if they were made next year.”
To the surprise of some, Lin Duo, considered a protege of the party’s anticorruption chief Wang Qishan, was appointed governor of Gansu (甘肅) province in April. The appointment of Lin, 60, was unusual as he has never worked in the western province, nor has he been a governor of any province. Lin’s appointment, which made him a provincial cadre, effectively postponed his retirement for five years until 2021.
