biography
pronunciation:
[dubchek]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1921–92)
|
| biography:
| Czechoslovakian statesman, born in Uhrovek, W Slovak Republic. He joined the Communist Party in 1939, fought as a Slovak patriot against the Nazis (1944–5), and rose to become first secretary in the Party (1968). He introduced a series of far-reaching economic and political reforms, including abolition of censorship and increased freedom of speech (the ‘Prague Spring'). His liberalization policy led to the occupation of Czechoslovakia by Warsaw Pact forces (Aug 1968), and in 1969 he was replaced by Husak. He became president of the Federal Assembly, but was then expelled from the Presidium, and deprived of Party membership in 1970. In 1989, following a popular uprising, and the resignation of the Communist government, he was elected chairman of the Czechoslovak Federal Assembly, but retired from political life soon after. |
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