Beijing to discuss revising constitution for first time since 2004
President’s political theory ‘Xi Jinping Thought’ is expected to be added, along with amendment to set up new anti-graft super agency
Around 400 of the Communist Party’s most powerful cadres will meet next month to discuss making the first amendments to China’s constitution since 2004, according to state-run Xinhua.
The proposal will be discussed during the second plenum of the 19th party congress, as decided by a 25-member Politburo session on Wednesday.
It is widely expected that “Xi Jinping Thought” – the president’s political theory which was incorporated into the party charter at the congress in October – will be added to the constitution, along with a change to set up a new anti-graft super body.
The second plenum is to be held in January, the earliest in the past 30 years, but an exact date was not given. It is usually a largely ceremonial meeting at which suggestions for appointments to state offices – including the president, premier and ministers – are made, which then go to the National People’s Congress to confirm. The NPC is usually held in March.
No details of the amendment were given in the Xinhua report, but legal experts expect it to include new clauses for the National Supervision Commission.
The all-encompassing anti-graft commission has been piloted at the provincial level this year. It will be on a par with the State Council, China’s cabinet, the lawmaking National People’s Congress, the supreme court and the supreme prosecutors’ office.
