China - October 2022

Chairman Xi Jinping was elected for an unprecedented third term as the Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) on 23 October. Xi's consolidation of power is reflected in the unveiling of his new seven-man Politburo Standing Committee (equivalent to the presidential cabinet) comprised mainly of loyalists and close allies, allegedly leaving no room for opposition to his rule inside the party. The 24-person Politburo committee also contains no women for the first time in 25 years. Xi's appointment has the potential of paving the way for lifelong rule, following his role in eliminating term limits in 2018. 

Sources: South China Morning Post, The Diplomat, Foreign Policy, The Guardian