TheCable

China on Sunday removed term limits from its constitution, paving the way for Xi Jinping to remain President for as long as possible.

His term in office was meant to end in 2023.

The decision was made by the Chinese parliament when it passed a series of constitutional amendments.

Of the 2,964 votes cast, 2,958 were in favour, two were against and three abstentions were recorded.

When China’s ruling Communist Party proposed the amendment in February, it was met with criticism from various quarters.

Xi began his second five-year term as party chief in October.

The limit of two five-year presidential terms was written into China’s constitution in 1976 by Deng Xiaoping.