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New Communist Party rules hint China’s Xi Jinping is delegating more power to deputies

New party rules aim to standardise policy coordination and strengthen decision-making at the top

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Some observers suggest that President Xi Jinping may pass down his power in phases. Photo: EPA-EFE
Vanessa Caiin ShanghaiandXinlu Liangin Beijing
New rules on certain Communist Party organs suggest China’s ruling party is aiming to standardise its decision-making process and that President Xi Jinping might be delegating more of his power, according to observers.
The 24-member Politburo, the party’s top echelon, on Monday reviewed new rules that would apply to the various “party coordinative institutes” – organisations aimed at coordinating cross-agency policies in a specific area.

Specifically, these refer to party “central commissions” and “party leading groups”, many of which were either founded or given expanded power during Xi’s tenure.

The new regulations aim to standardise the policy coordination and review process at the top, according to state news agency Xinhua.

According to Xinhua, the Politburo meeting noted that these organs should focus on “planning, discussing and checking on major matters”.

According to experts, this underscored a trend, first reported on by the South China Morning Post, of Xi delegating more authority to his deputies on day-to-day issues.
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