In June 2007, about 400 senior cadres held a closed-door democratic recommendation vote ahead of the 17th CCP National Congress. Reports said Xi Jinping ranked first in votes and Li Keqiang second; the results were never officially released.
On June 4, 2007, the Chengdu Evening News published a classified advertisement paying tribute to the strong mothers of the June Fourth victims, after which three editors were fired.
Jiang faction Politburo Standing Committee member Huang Ju died of cancer, dealing a heavy blow to the Jiang faction's strength.
In June 2007, Hu Jintao pushed forward a system of democratic recommendations, in which more than 400 Central Committee members and alternate members voted to select Politburo candidates from among more than 200 ministerial-level officials under the age of 63. Large numbers of Jiang Zemin faction members voted in blocs, resulting in Li Keqiang's elimination and Xi Jinping's victory, and Hu Jintao's succession plan fell through.