political power

• Xi Jinping has sidelined potential rivals and filled the top ranks of the ruling Communist Party with his supporters since taking power in 2012
• The vote for Xi's prolonged term was 2,952 to 0 by the NPC, who were appointed by Xi
• Xi, 69, had himself named to a third five-year term as party general secretary in October 2022, breaking with a tradition under which Chinese leaders handed over power once a decade
• A two-term limit on the figurehead presidency was deleted from the Chinese Constitution, prompting suggestions he might stay in power for life