Word: politburo
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...Friday, Jakes and all 13 other members of the ruling Politburo resigned en masse, admitting that they had taken insufficient measures to bring about democratic reform in the country. Within hours Jakes was replaced by Karel Urbanek, 48, party leader of the Czech republic. Urbanek played no role whatsoever in the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, the principal condition set by opposition forces for the choice of a new party leader. But his views on reform are far from clear, and some observers saw him as a - transition figure. Jubilation over Jakes' departure was further tempered...
...bringing Czechoslovakia such reforms as interim power sharing with the opposition, creation of a multiparty system and curbs on police powers. By week's end Dubcek was calling for still more change. Addressing a vast throng on Saturday in Letna Plain, a parade area overlooking Prague, he said the Politburo shuffle alone "did not meet the demands of the people." The government, he added, is "telling us that the street is not the place for things to be solved, but I say the street was and is the place. The voice of the street must be heard...
...party's Central Committee dumped three more hard-liners from the ruling Politburo, the second major leadership reshuffle in three days...
...Even in Moscow, party leaders were struggling to come to terms with the revolution being wrought in Eastern Europe. Official papers were both elated by the changes and wary that the democratic tide might wash away the postwar boundaries of Europe. Politburo member Alexander Yakovlev observed that the renewal in Poland, Hungary and East Germany "poses a threat to none, except, maybe, those countries that have yet to go through the process of democratization." Moscow was preparing to ease rules for travel and gave no sign that the tidal wave in Eastern Europe has reached the limit of its tolerance...
...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 role." "I don't expect elections with...