China leads Xi Jinping to the Olympus of great leaders

Beijing. The main leaders of the Communist Party of China (CCP) yesterday adopted a resolution on the 100-year history of the political movement that consolidates the legacy of President Xi Jinping among the icons of the regime.

The statement asked to defend “the correct view of the party’s history” and adds that the PCC “has written the most magnificent epic in the thousands of years of history of the Chinese nation.”

In a country where history is traditionally used to legitimize power, Xi has taken advantage of this resolution to present himself as heir to the regime.

Since coming to power in 2012, “Chinese socialism has entered a new era,” the statement said.

The “thought” of the Beijing strongman “is the quintessence of Chinese culture and soul,” continues the text, which calls “the entire party, the entire army and people of all ethnic groups, to unite around the Committee. Central with Comrade Xi Jinping as its axis. “

This year’s plenary paves the way for the 20th CCP congress, in which Xi is expected to assume a third term at the helm, which will make him the most powerful leader in China since Mao Zedong (1949-1974).

During its century of existence, the PCC had only adopted two resolutions on its history, each one before the start of a new political page.

The first in 1945 had reinforced Mao Zedong’s authority four years before the Communists came to power. The second, in 1981, gave Deng Xiaoping the opportunity to leave Maoism behind by acknowledging Mao’s “mistakes” at a time when he was launching major economic reforms.

In the official communiqué Mao is mentioned seven times, Deng five and now Xi … 17.

Absolute power

Analysts believe the resolution will help Xi further consolidate his power by defining his vision for China before next year’s congress.

“The party rewrites its past to prepare the future around Xi Jinping. We are going to witness an even greater form of silence law” on the dark hours of history, estimates the sinologist Jean-Pierre Cabestan, professor at the university Hong Kong Baptist.

Xi’s period has been marked by the war on corruption, repressive policies in the Xingjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong regions, and an increasingly assertive approach to international relations.

He also created a cult of his leadership that crushed criticism, eradicated his rivals, and introduced his own political theory to school and college students.