Nipping the bud: big changes planned for 'aristocratic' Communist Youth League
Organisation to reform leadership and management after several bruising months that saw graft scandals and president label top members ‘aristocratic’
China’s Communist Youth League, once a powerful force within the party, will overhaul its leadership and management structures, following Chinese President Xi Jinping’s call for the elite organisation to improve its role in politics.
It is believed the overhaul of a key organisation before a crucial party congress will pave the way for Xi to further consolidate his power.
The league used to be a cradle for promising party stars, counting former president Hu Jintao and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang among its veterans.
But the Xi administration appears to have put at least some of its influence in check by sidelining the so-called league faction. The scrutiny was partly triggered by the downfall of Hu’s former chief of staff and league veteran, Ling Jihua, who was jailed for life for graft, among other charges.
Entitled “Proposal on the Reform of Youth League’s Central Committee”, the document said the changes were aimed at implementing instructions given by Xi on the organisation’s work.