The Central Politburo of the Communist Party of China or Political bureau of the CPC Central Committee, formerly known as Central Bureau (ä¸å¤®å±€) before 1927, is a group of 25 people who oversee the Communist Party of China. Unlike politburos (political bureaus) of other Communist parties, power within the politburo is centralized in the Politburo Standing Committee. The Politburo is nominally appointed by the Central Committee.
The power of the Politburo resides largely in the fact that its members generally simultaneously hold positions within the People's Republic of China state positions and with the control over personnel appointments that the Politburo and Secretariat have. In addition, some Politburo members hold powerful regional positions. How the Politburo works internally is unclear, but it appears that the full Politburo meets once a month and the standing committee meets weekly. This is believed to be much more infrequent than the former Soviet Politburo had met. The agenda for the meetings appears to be controlled by the General Secretary and decisions are made by consensus rather than by majority vote.
The Politburo was eclipsed by the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China Central Committee in the early 1980s under Hu Yaobang, but has re-emerged as a dominant force after Hu's ousting in 1987.
Current (18th) Politburo members
The 18th Politburo was elected at the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in November 2012.
- In stroke order of surnames:
- Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party, Chairman of the Central Military Commission, President of the People's Republic of China, 1st-ranked member of Politburo Standing Committee,
- Ma Kai, Vice Premier
- Wang Qishan, 6th-ranked member of Politburo Standing Committee, Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection
- Wang Huning, Director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee
- Liu Yunshan, 5th-ranked member of Politburo Standing Committee, Top-ranked Secretary of the CPC Central Secretariat, Chairman of the Central Guidance Commission for Building Spiritual Civilization, President of the Central Party School
- Liu Yandong, Vice Premier
- Liu Qibao, Secretary of the CPC Central Secretariat, Head of the CPC Propaganda Department
- Xu Qiliang, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission
- Sun Chunlan, head of the CPC United Front Work Department, former party chief of Tianjin
- Sun Zhengcai, Party chief of Chongqing
- Li Keqiang, 2nd-ranked member of Politburo Standing Committee, Premier of the People's Republic of China
- Li Jianguo, Vice-Chairman and Secretary-General oft the National People's Congress
- Li Yuanchao, Vice President of the People's Republic of China
- Wang Yang, Vice Premier
- Zhang Chunxian, Party chief of Xinjiang
- Zhang Gaoli, 7th-ranked member of Politburo Standing Committee, First-ranked Vice Premier
- Zhang Dejiang, 3rd-ranked member of Politburo Standing Committee, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
- Fan Changlong, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission
- Meng Jianzhu, Head of the Central Politics and Law Commission of the Communist Party of China
- Zhao Leji, Secretary of the CPC Central Secretariat, Head of the CPC Organization Department
- Hu Chunhua, Party chief of Guangdong
- Yu Zhengsheng, 4th-ranked member of Politburo Standing Committee and Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
- Li Zhanshu, Secretary of CPC Central Secretariat, Chief of the General Office of the Communist Party of China
- Guo Jinlong, Party chief of Beijing
- Han Zheng, Party chief of Shanghai
17th Politburo members
The 17th Politburo was elected at the 1st Plenary Session of the 17th Central Committee, in the immediate aftermath of the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in October 2007.
- In stroke order of surnames:
- Xi Jinping, Top-ranked Secretary of CPC Secretariat, Vice-President, Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission, President of the Central Party School
- Wang Gang, Vice-Chair of CPPCC National Committee
- Wang Lequan, Deputy secretary of the Political and Legislative Affairs Committee
- Wang Zhaoguo, Vice-Chairman of National People's Congress, Chair of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions
- Wang Qishan, Vice-Premier
- Hui Liangyu, Vice-Premier
- Liu Qi, Party chief of Beijing, head of Beijing Olympics organizing committee
- Liu Yunshan, Secretary of CPC Central Secretariat, Head of the CPC Propaganda Department
- Liu Yandong, State Councilor
- Li Changchun, Chairman of the Central Guidance Commission for Building Spiritual Civilization
- Li Keqiang, First Vice-Premier
- Li Yuanchao, Secretary in CPC Central Secretariat, CPC Organization Department head
- Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
- Wang Yang, Party chief of Guangdong
- Zhang Gaoli, Party chief of Tianjin
- Zhang Dejiang, Vice-Premier, Party chief of Chongqing
- Zhou Yongkang, Secretary of the Political and Legislative Affairs Committee
- Hu Jintao, CPC General Secretary, PRC President, Chairman of the Central Military Commission
- Yu Zhengsheng, Party chief of Shanghai
- He Guoqiang, Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection
- Jia Qinglin, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
- Xu Caihou, Vice-Chairman of Central Military Commission
- Guo Boxiong, Vice-Chairman of Central Military Commission
- Wen Jiabao, Premier of the State Council
- Bo Xilai, Dismissed April 2012
16th Politburo members
The 16th Politburo was elected at the 1st Plenary Session of the 16th Central Committee, in the immediate aftermath of the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in November 2002.
- In stroke order of surnames:
- Wang Lequan (CPC Xinjiang Committee Secretary)
- Wang Zhaoguo (Vice-Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee; Chair, All-China Federation of Trade Unions)
- Hui Liangyu (Vice-Premier)
- Liu Qi (Party chief of Beijing)
- Liu Yunshan (Head of CPC Propaganda Department)
- Li Changchun
- Wu Yi (Vice-Premier)
- Wu Bangguo (Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee)
- Wu Guanzheng (Head of Central Discipline Inspection Commission
- Zhang Lichang (Party chief of Tianjin)
- Zhang Dejiang (Party chief of Guangdong)
- Chen Liangyu (Party chief of Shanghai, suspended from Politburo in 2006)
- Luo Gan (Chair, Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee)
- Zhou Yongkang (Head of Ministry of Public Security)
- Hu Jintao (General Secretary of the Communist Party, President of China)
- Yu Zhengsheng (CPC Hubei Committee Secretary)
- He Guoqiang (Head of CPC Organization Department)
- Jia Qinglin (Chairman of the Political Consultative Conference)
- Guo Boxiong (Vice-Chairman, Central Military Commission)
- Huang Ju (Vice-Premier, died in office June 2007)
- Cao Gangchuan (Minister of Defense)
- Zeng Qinghong (Vice-President, President of Central Party School)
- Zeng Peiyan (Vice-Premier)
- Wen Jiabao (Premier)
- Wang Gang (Alternate Member)
15th Politburo members
The 15th Politburo was elected at the 1st Plenary Session of the 15th Central Committee, in the immediate aftermath of the 15th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in September 1997.
- Ding Guangen
- Tian Jiyun
- Zhu Rongji
- Jiang Zemin (General Secretary)
- Li Peng
- Li Changchun
- Li Lanqing
- Li Tieying
- Li Ruihuan
- Wu Bangguo
- Wu Guanzheng
- Chi Haotian
- Zhang Wannian
- Luo Gan
- Hu Jintao
- Jiang Chunyun
- Jia Qinglin
- Qian Qichen
- Huang Ju
- Wei Jianxing
- Wen Jiabao
- Xie Fei (deceased on October 27, 1999)
- Zeng Qinghong (alternate)
- Wu Yi (alternate)
See also
- Politburo Standing Committee
- Central Guard Unit
- Collective leadership
- Tuidang movement
References
External links
- "Hu Jintao and the Party Politburo", Winter 2004: Party Affairs, By Alice L. Miller, China Leadership Monitor No. 9
- www.nodulo.org Pictures of the members (Spanish)