China’s annual legislative session, the National People’s Congress, will open in Beijing tomorrow, March 5. Topping the agenda at the meetings will be the formal installation of Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang as president and premier respectively. But some expect a number of reform initiatives to come to vote at the NPC session as well. How strong initiatives at the NPC are, of course, will depend on the Party leadership, as the legislative body has no real lawmaking power and serves largely as a rubber-stamp for Party initiatives. The above cartoon, posted by artist Kuang Biao (邝飚) to Sina Weibo, shows the fat pig of the National People’s Congress, bloated with wealth and privilege, tied up with red restraints (symbolizing Party power). A tag on the pig’s ear says “5”, a reference to the May 5 opening of the NPC.


David Bandurski

CMP Director

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