Word: bulgarias
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Those countries have in various degreesaccepted the reforms introduced by Soviet leaderMikhail S. Gorbachev. Hard-line leaders whorejected change--Erich Honecker in East Germany,Todor Zhivkov in Bulgaria, and most recently MikosJakes of Czechoslovakia--have been ousted...
...most profound changes. The people of Eastern Europe sense just such a tide washing over them now, a political swell that has already propelled Solidarity to power in Poland, transformed Communism to socialism in Hungary and punched through the Wall in Berlin. Last week the irresistible tide reached Bulgaria and even pounded at the entrenched Communist regime in Czechoslovakia. Men and women across the full breadth of the East bloc were attempting to catch the wave, aware that it must be done before a historic opportunity is lost...
...Bulgaria at least 50,000 people marched peacefully through central Sofia, chanting "Democracy!" and "Free elections!" and demanding that Todor Zhivkov, the autocratic hard-liner who had been ousted only a week earlier after 35 years in power, be put on trial. Although the unthinkable has become a daily happening in Eastern Europe, there was still something astonishing in the sight of street demonstrations in this quiescent land. The marches even had the blessing of the week-old reformist government of Petar Mladenov, 53, which has been moving rapidly to harness the country's desire for change. For the first...
Mladenov's ascendancy in Bulgaria was the result of deep interparty wrangling that was fueled by a policy clash over Zhivkov's persecution of the country's large Turkish minority. The racist program raised an international uproar that embarrassed Mladenov, who was then Foreign Minister. Mladenov is believed to have rallied support among the Politburo to stage a civilian coup against Zhivkov. After a decisive vote, the new overlord of Bulgaria quickly adopted the language of reform to rally public support and consolidate power. Despite his stated preference for free elections, Mladenov has said nothing about abandoning the Communists' "leading...
...canniest of political manipulators. Officially sanctioned anti-Zhivkov demonstrations last week were soon overwhelmed by popularly organized protests. For the moment their prime target is the hated Zhivkov, who is widely accused of arrogance, corruption and a czarlike accumulation of personal wealth. Said Slavcho Trenski, a Central Committee member: "Bulgaria became a hunting reserve for the President." Communist leaders may buy time and cheer hearts with a modicum of reform, but it is all too possible that they also could be surprised by the chain reaction that arises from the very exhilaration of new freedoms...