Unexpected Farewell: Former Chinese President Hu Jintao ‘Escorted’ Out of the Party Congress
Picture this: the towering Great Hall of the People in Beijing, the buzz of a once‑in‑five‑years political saga, and then—out of the blue—former President Hu Jintao gets the polite but firm “run, run!” from the staff. At 79, the man who stepped aside to make room for Xi Jinping, Hu was supposed to sit next to Xi in the closing ceremony. Instead, he found himself on an unintended exit tour.
Why the Sudden Exit?
- The stewards, who were supposedly there to welcome guests, became the chief escort officers.
- AFP footage captures a steward repeatedly attempting to lift Hu from his seat, eyebrows raised from the surrounding officials.
- Top legislator Li Zhanshu handed his folder over to the steward, smoothed his hair with a cloth—classic “let’s get this done” attitude.
A Touch of Drama
Hu looked like he’d just woken up from a 90‑minute nap. He resisted the exit, stammered back to his chair, and then—after a whispered talk with Xi and a shoulder pat to Premier Li Keqiang—he finally stood. It was a surprisingly theatrical scene that could only be described as “political theatricalism at its finest.”
After the Curtain Call
- During the opening ceremony, Hu was already a bit wobbling—later called “slightly unsteady.”
- Yesterday’s close saw a constitutional amendment that officially slotted Xi at the heart of the Party, solidifying his core status and guiding thought.
- With Hu’s exit, the congress shifts focus—back to Xi’s new reign.
All In All…
From an area that’s usually a dense political playbook, we saw a slice that could’ve gone straight into a soap opera: a former president abruptly exited the stage, a team of stewards, a haggling folder—aha! Modern Chinese politics, where the drama never leaves the address.
