Portrait
China: Li Qiang, a loyal Xi Jinping as Prime Minister
(FILES) This file photo taken on October 23, 2022 shows Li Qiang, Shanghai Communist Party Secretary, applauding as he is introduced as a member of the Communist Party of China's Politburo Standing Committee, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
China's leader Xi Jinping will glide into his third term in power bruised but unbowed by the mass protests, deadly Covid wave and economic malaise that have afflicted his rule in recent months.Noel CELIS / AFP © Noel CELIS / AFP
Text by: Baptiste Condominas Follow
6 mins
For the past week, the annual parliamentary session has been held.
It marks the start of a new, unprecedented mandate for Xi Jinping, and the departure of Prime Minister Li Keqiang, who was appointed to this post on March 15, 2013. This is Li Qiang, a close friend of Xi Jinping, a member of the permanent committee of the political bureau of the Chinese Communist Party, which succeeds him.
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Before the Chinese Communist Party's last congress last October, few people outside China had heard of Li Qiang, let alone suspected that he would become the second most powerful man in the state apparatus. .
But during the presentation of the standing committee of the party political bureau, the party general secretary in Shanghai was seen walking right behind Xi Jinping.
Propelled to number two in the politburo, the promotion of this inexperienced official at central government level is surprising.
At 63, Li Qiang is a career politician who rose through the ranks as a local executive in his native province, until in 2005 he became secretary of the Zhejiang Communist Party committee.
He was then directly under the orders of Xi Jinping, at the time secretary general of this coastal province, with whom he forged close ties.
Li Qiang became governor of Zhejiang at the end of 2012 before being promoted to head of Jiangsu province in 2016 to fill the political vacuum caused by a corruption scandal.
A year later, he became general secretary of Shanghai.
Economic pragmatism
At the head of the economic capital of the country, Li Qiang multiplies pro-business policies and consolidates a reputation as a pragmatist with liberal approaches, already developed during his years at the head of Zhejiang where he did not hide his support for the economy. private and business people.
"
He was a strong advocate for greater market openness to foreign investors and urged local bureaucracy to create a business-friendly environment when he was in charge of Shanghai," said
Wang Feng, chairman of the service group. financiers Ye Lang Capital,
to the
South China Morning Post
.
Reuters
reports that Li pushed for greater economic integration of the Yangtze River Delta region and oversaw the expansion of the Financial Center Free Trade Zone which now houses Tesla's Chinese factory as well
as
a large number of semiconductor companies.
He played a key role in bringing the American automaker to Shanghai, its first factory outside the United States.
But if he is seen in some circles as a rather liberal profile, ready to bend the rules,
the BBC wonders
: will he continue in this direction, not afraid to take initiatives because he has the support of Xi, or abandon his pragmatic approach to fall into line, in the shadow of a president who wants to put the state at the center of the Chinese economy?
President Xi Jinping followed by the CPC General Secretary in Shanghai, Li Qiang, during the presentation of the standing committee of the party's political bureau, October 23, 2022. AP - Ng Han Guan
However, on this priority subject, there is no lack of files.
The Prime Minister will have to get down
to reviving a machine seized
by the Covid pandemic, the real estate crisis, a slowdown in external demand, the wave of protectionism around the world, an aging population and a labor force. in decline... A major challenge, even for someone who is presented as an effective manager.
Especially since the question arises of the leeway he will really have, Xi Jinping having reclaimed certain prerogatives of the Prime Minister.
His predecessor Li Keqiang paid the price, with his reform projects hampered by the growing authority of the president.
Disagreements that pushed him towards the exit and should no longer be a problem with the new number two.
Analysts see this appointment as a strategic choice on the part of the Chinese leader: to consolidate his hold on the state apparatus by ousting opponents and replacing them with relatives.
And this despite the criticism he faced in handling Shanghai's lockdown last year.
The very strict closure of China's most populous city for two months had caused difficulties in the supply of food and essential medical care for its 25 million inhabitants.
A situation that had provoked the anger of Shanghainese,
on social networks, but also sometimes in the street
.
During the megalopolis' lockdown, Li had repeatedly appeared on state media, visiting residential compounds and hospitals hammering the party line with his "zero-Covid" policy.
Loyalty
This disaster did not however slow down his political ascent.
Which makes experts say that his closeness to Xi Jinping is the key factor in this promotion to the highest peak in the state.
"
If there was proof that loyalty trumps meritocracy in Xi's China, Li Qiang's promotion is it
," Richard McGregor of the Lowy Institute in Sydney, Australia, told AFP. .
“
Li may be competent enough and could make a good prime minister, but it's hard to understand how he got there other than through personal favors from Xi.
»
This relationship with the president could benefit him.
Because unlike Li Keqiang – considered a rival and not a protege of Xi – the new Prime Minister has the confidence of his mentor and could therefore prove to be more influential.
“
Xi Jinping doesn't have to worry about Li Qiang becoming a competing pole of power
,” Ho Pin, a journalist and Chinese politics observer,
told The Associated Press
.
“
The trust between them also allows Li Qiang to work more proactively and share his concerns, and he will give Xi a lot of information and suggestions directly.
It remains to be seen whether he will use this influence, because Li Qiang is above all seen as a faithful executor of Xi Jinping's will.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) chats with Li Qiang during the third plenary session of the People's Congress of China, March 10, 2023. REUTERS - POOL
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