Xi Jinping loyalist who locked down Shanghai for months becomes China’s new premier

INDEPENDENT 

Xi loyalist is now China’s second most powerful man

Li Qiang has formally become China’s next premier in a role that has traditionally entailed wielding broad authority over economic policy for the world’s second-largest economy.

Mr Li was formally elected on Saturday as the second most powerful man in China, after president Xi Jinping had earlier nominated the 63-year-old for the role.

The National People’s Congress had 2,936 votes in favour of Mr Li, and three against him. There were eight abstentions.

The new premier previously served as Shanghai’s Communist Party chief, and recently gained notoriety for implementing last year’s bruising two-month Covid lockdown in Shanghai. Mr Li also pushed for the sudden and chaotic end to the country’s zero-Covid policy after unprecedented protests.

His appointment comes during an annual political event in which Mr Xi secured an unprecedented third term as president on Friday, solidifying his unchallenged grip on power and opening up the possibility that he could remain in power for life.

Mr Li replaces Li Keqiang, who served as China’s premier for 10 years. Li Keqiang, a former Communist Party official, made what appeared to be a veiled attack on Mr Xi in a farewell message to his staff: “While people work, heaven watches. Heaven has eyes.”

Li Qiang is tasked with reviving the world’s second-largest economy, which is yet to emerge from the effects of three years of sweeping Covid restrictions.

Traditionally, the premiership conveys significant influence over economic policy. The power of the role, however, has been eroded under Mr Xi’s leadership during the past decade, as the president has primarily consolidated control in his own hands.

Some analysts believe Mr Li could play a larger – if not more influential – role than his predecessor. But this will be no easy task, as he is expected to tackle an economic downturn as the government expects to expand the economy by “around 5 per cent” this year – the lowest target in more than three decades.

China is facing a historic decline in its key housing market, consumer spending is languishing, and unemployment remains high among its youth amid the waning trust of investors.