Xi abruptly swops jobs of two politburo members media says

BEIJING – The ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) has abruptly switched the roles of two Politburo members, according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP),an unprecedented move that comes as Mr Xi Jinping breaks personnel norms in his third term.

Mr Li Ganjie, who heads the body in charge of senior job appointments, has swopped position with Mr Shi Taifeng, who leads the party’s United Front Work Department, the newspaper reported, citing unidentified people familiar with the situation.

There is no previous case of Politburo members swopping posts, the SCMP reported.

China’s most-powerful leader since Mao Zedong has broken the retirement rules and roiled the upper echelons of power in recent years, ousting three sitting ministers since unveiling his latest Cabinet in 2023, as well as several senior military cadres.

A flurry of appointments is expected at the provincial and ministerial level in 2025, which will pave the way for the next Politburo line-up in 2027 when the twice-a-decade party congress is expected.

There is no suggestion that Mr Li or Mr Shi has done anything wrong.

Shuffling jobs could be a way for China’s top leader to prevent senior cadres from becoming overly influential and building cliques.

Mr Li, 60, was the environmental minister and Shandong party chief before being elevated to the 24-member Politburo in 2022.

He succeeded Mr Chen Xi, who was once Mr Xi’s college roommate, as head of the Organisation Department in March 2023.

Mr Chen has remained influential in swaying appointments.

Mr Shi, 68, worked in the 2000s as deputy to Mr Xi, who was then leading the Central Party School as China’s vice-president.

The two agencies and the Central Propaganda Department are the three key functional arms of the party.

The United Front Work Department is in charge of building influence