Word: politburo
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...Communist Party following Chernenko's death, Gorbachev, 54, was consolidating his power, as one U.S. Kremlinologist put it, "faster than any previous leader in Soviet history." In April the urbane, affable Soviet leader had gained three new places for his supporters on a newly expanded, 13-member Politburo. The latest shake-up was apparently aimed at giving Gorbachev the same kind of free hand, and perhaps a wider range of policy choices, in his dealings abroad. Said Peter Reddaway, a Soviet expert at the London School of Economics and Political Science: "This makes it more conceivable that changes could happen...
...described as an "eminent political figure" and also, significantly, as "one of the oldest party members." Then came the second part of Gorbachev's surprise. Gromyko's replacement as Soviet Foreign Minister would be Shevardnadze, 57, the vigorous, innovative Georgian who had been named to full Politburo membership only the previous day, filling the Romanov vacancy...
Whatever else the moves implied, it appeared that Gorbachev had found a novel and relatively graceful way to ring down the curtain on an era while continuing his rejuvenation of the Politburo. Since the end of Chernenko's painfully indecisive 13-month reign, Gromyko has been widely viewed as the foremost member of the Kremlin's Old Guard. His personal power reached an apogee last March when, it is believed, he played a principal role in winning the party leadership for Gorbachev. Gromyko nominated Gorbachev in an impassioned speech to the Politburo (subsequently published) that was seemingly designed to overcome...
What has most impressed Western analysts has been the speed at which Gorbachev's changes have occurred. Indeed, that may prove to be a hallmark of the Gorbachev era. The party boss showed the same kind of decisiveness in April, when he suddenly increased his control over the Politburo. At the % time, he served notice that "revolutionary changes" would be the order...
Romanov's ouster seems to be a case in point. Before Gorbachev's selection as General Secretary, Romanov was regarded by many Kremlinologists as a serious contender for the leadership. According to some reports, Romanov led the opposition to Gorbachev inside the Politburo by nominating another Old Guardsman, Moscow Party Chief Viktor Grishin, 70, as a candidate for General Secretary...