NID: CZECHOSLOVAKIA: PARTY UNDER THE GUN

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: The Collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe: A 30-Year Legacy
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06826793
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 26, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 10, 2019
• Publication Date: November 27, 1989

Approved for Release: 2019/10/29 C06826793
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CZEICIIOSLOVAKIA: Party Under the Gun
The Czechoslovak Communist Part's crisis deepened throutthout the
weekend as members demanded st%cepine. leadership and policy
changes. An emergenc session of the Central Committee met last
night: seven no% Presidium members were added. and Prague party
boss Stepan. Trade Union boss Zavadil. and hardliner Jozef Lenart
were removed from their posts. General Secretary Urbane!: has called
for an extraordinar party congress for 26 January.
Comment: The swift ouster of Stepan. Zavadil. and Lenart
underscores the growing power of the newly founded Civic Forum.
which had demanded their removal. Angered by the results of the
Central Committee's session on Friday�which removed some
hardliners but retained others�and responding to popular pressure.
party membeis apparently forced the leadership to convene another
emergenc session yesterday to carry out additional changes. An
extraordinary congress would enable party reformers to sweep the old
guard front the Central Committee and to install reform-minded
leaders. Civic Forum. however, almost certainly will continue to call
for mass demonstrations�a two-hour general strike called for today
is ensured of widespread support�until the party formally repudiates
its monopol on political power.
NR Record
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TCS 2974/89
2' November 1989
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Czechoslovakia: Sweeping Leadership Changes
The extraordinary session of the Communist Party Central Committee late last night
responded to continuing public demands b ousting more members of the old guard and
installine new, mostly younger faces .in the Presidium. Two new members�youth unions
dtielMohorita and Writers Union chairman Valek�are moderates who support dialogue
kit the people. Two women. workers in industry, have been added and presumably will
bring workers and women's views to top party decisionmaking. The smaller Secretariat now
consists of seven secretaries and two members; live are holdovers. Responsibilities have not
been spelled out. except for General Secretary Urbanek.
Urbanek has satisfied one of the demonstrators' demands�removal of the leaders who came
to power in the aftermath of the 1968 Soviet-led invasion. But he and his new team must
now cope with the remaining demands. including those for radical reforms, free elections.
and an end to the party's leading role: it is doubtful that this Presidium will be a strong force.
best it will take new members time to become familiar with their jobs and to learn to deal
effectively with a rapidly changing political climate and an increasingly vocal populace. At
worst, ninny of the new faces will not last past the party congress in January.
11-0r3Segitt.
TCS 2974/89
27 November 1989
Approved for Release: 2019/10/29 C06826793