China’s Communist Party (CPC) is expected to pass a bill on Monday that will give it even more powers over the State Council which is the country’s cabinet.
According to a South China Morning Post report the amendments to the State Council Organic Law will subject the body to greater oversight over the legislature which is dominated by party members and promote Xi Jinping thought.
Monday is the last day of the National People’s Congress (NPC) gathering. The NPC is China’s annual parliamentary meeting
The reform of the bill, the first time it has been done since 1982, would also subject the body to greater oversight from the legislature, which is packed with party members.
According to Bloomberg the bill is expected to further cement the centrality of President Xi Jinping and party thought and ensure in all walks of life, from company boardrooms to university lecture halls.
The report also suggests that it will ensure near complete party domination over the State Council and according to the South China Morning Post possibly reduce the role of Premier Li Qang who is the current head of the Council.
Premier Li had already made waves when he did not take the annual press conference at the end of the NPC.
This has been a tradition that goes back three decades.
Experts believe the amendments to the bill puts Communist Party thought over all else. According to AP it adds that the governor of China’s central bank will be a ministerial post. This suggests that China’s policy plans for its target of 5% annual economic growth will be determined by the president with no suggestions from other quarters.
This is unlike earlier times where the State Council had some independence to act on policy decisions.
