|
AntonIn NovotnY[An´tOnyEn nO´vOtnE] Pronunciation Key, 1904–75, Czechoslovakian Communist leader. A founding member (1921) of the Communist party, he participated (1948) in the Communist seizure of power and became first secretary of the party in 1953. In 1957 he became president of Czechoslovakia, thus uniting the two top national posts. NovotnY's regime was characterized by repression, bureaucracy, and economic stagnation. A liberal majority, led by Alexander Dubcek, coalesced against him and in Jan., 1968, NovotnY was replaced as first secretary by Dubcek. Later that year he was forced to resign from the presidency.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia Copyright © 2009, Columbia
University Press.
Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
|
