Word: kirilenko
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...usual place at Brezhnev's right side, indicating that he was still the heir apparent. On Brezhnev's left was another strong candidate, Grishin. Then came Prime Minister Nikolai Tikhonov, 76, Andropov and Defense Minister Dmitri Ustinov, 73, who are all contenders. Conspicuously absent was Andrei Kirilenko, 75, the former No. 2 man in the Politburo, who is believed to be ill or in disfavor, and has not been seen for the past three months...
Western governments were just as puzzled over who was in charge during Brezhnev's absence. Speculation that Andrei Kirilenko, 75, a longtime favorite for the succession, had lost a power struggle to Brezhnev Protégé Konstantin Chernenko, 70, was strengthened last week when Kirilenko's name was missing from an obituary for a World War II tank commander signed by other Kremlin leaders. A senior West German official gave Brezhnev "a few more months," but then warned: "When I read our information, I am always amazed at how little we know for certain about the inner...
Brezhnev may well survive his latest illness just as he prevailed over the ailments that periodically weakened him during the past decade. Still, tension within the Kremlin may mount as contenders for power vie for position. Apparently out of the running is Andrei Kirilenko, 75, a onetime favorite who has not been seen in public since mid-February. The most visible contender for the succession is Konstantin Chernenko, 70, a longtime Brezhnev aide who has consistently appeared standing next to the President in recent months. Other Politburo members vying for the succession include Moscow Party Chief Viktor Grishin, Leningrad Party...
...Trade Unions last week. According to rumors, as many as 4,000 Suslov-backed officials may have been fired since his death. Chernenko has moved aggressively to fill the void. Significantly, he stood immediately beside Brezhnev at Suslov's funeral, while Chernenko's leading rival, Andrei Kirilenko, 75, remained at a conspicuous distance...
Some U.S. and British analysts believe that in attacking Brezhnev, some Politburo members are only trying to weaken Chernenko, who is evidently positioning himself for the top job. Though many Western experts still consider Kirilenko, the senior member of the Politburo after Brezhnev, more likely to take over following Brezhnev's resignation or death, Kirilenko has been absent from recent state functions. But whether Kirilenko or Chernenko wins out, either one of the septuagenarians could end up serving only as a caretaker while such "younger" Politburo members as Viktor Grishin, 67, and Grigori Romanov, 59, vie for position...