Former President Hu Jintao moved out

Early drama: Hu Jintao was ushered out immediately after reporters were ushered into the main hall pic.twitter.com/pRffGZF60I

— Danson Cheong (@dansoncj) October 22, 2022

Hu Jintao, who served as China’s president from 2003 to 2013, was booed by staff as he rose from his seat next to Xi Jinping in the front row of the Palace of the People. A staffer tries to hold the 79-year-old former president’s hand, visibly frail, but the latter refuses. The man then tries to lift him by the armpits, but Xi Jinping’s predecessor continues to resist. Hu Jintao meanwhile tries to pick up documents placed on his desk, which appear to belong to the Chinese premier. Xi Jinping has a firm grip on them. About a minute of conversation ensues between the employee and Hu Jintao. The former leader finally reluctantly left the premises. Grabbed by the hand, Hu Jintao is led out. As he stands up, he has a brief exchange with Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, who answers him without looking at him and taps him on the shoulder. The audience seems apathetic.

The row took place shortly after journalists entered the Palace of the People in Beijing to gather for the closing ceremony of the congress. Xi Jinping, 69, is due to be sworn in for a third term as the party’s general secretary on Sunday, guaranteeing him a third term as president next March.

The name “Hu Jindao” was censored on Saturday afternoon on China’s Twitter equivalent of Weibo. Only information from previous day and official accounts was available.