The country’s media claim his abrupt departure was linked to health issues
Former Chinese president Hu Jintao left the closing session of a key Communist Party meeting abruptly on Saturday, when the nation’s new leadership was expected to be elected.
Videos that surfaced on social media showed two men approaching Hu, who was seated next to Chinese President Xi Jinping. Following a brief conversation, one of the men appeared to urge the 79-year-old to leave and grabbed him by the arm. Hu seemed reluctant to comply with the request.
Another official seated next to the former president then seemingly joined the conversation and said something to him. At one point, Hu appeared to be trying to take some documents located between him and Xi, but the Chinese president resisted this attempt. Otherwise, the incumbent leader hardly reacted to the development at all.
Early drama: Hu Jintao seen being led out soon after reporters are led into the main hall pic.twitter.com/pRffGZF60I
— Danson Cheong (@dansoncj) October 22, 2022
As he left his seat on the stage of the Great Hall of the People, Hu appeared to address Xi once again, eliciting a brief reply and a nod. The former president then left the hall, accompanied by two officials.
Some Western commentators were quick to describe the move as a “purge,” while Western media reported that the former leader had been “escorted out” of the party congress.