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The Wall Street Journal: The sudden death of former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has caused much grief and mourning across the country. Li was the second face of the Communist Party and served as premier for ten years. He was considered by many to be a spokesman for reform ideas and a symbol of hope for many. Li’s death came at a difficult time for CCP leader Xi Jinping, when the country has weak economic growth, high unemployment and an unstable real estate market.
According to observers, mourning for a beloved official provides an opportunity for citizens to express their anger and dissatisfaction with the current leadership. Many people see Li as a reflection of themselves, comparing their own depressed lives under Xi’s authoritarian rule to Li’s “humiliated” existence as a marginalized prime minister. During Li Keqiang’s memorial ceremony, Xi and other senior officials honored his family, and Li’s former political patron Hu Jintao sent a wreath for the wake.
However, the authorities appeared to have taken measures to prevent widespread dissent, as they have done in the past with large-scale protests following the deaths of high-ranking officials.
The entire article can be read at the link China Mourns Former Premier Whose Death Hovers Over Xi Jinping – WSJ
