The World : Czech Party Blocks Reform

The Communist Party’s Central Committee, meeting in Prague, reshuffled the Czech government and also expressed opposition to major economic or political reform. Ladislav Adamec, 62, premier of the Czech lands, was chosen as the nation’s premier to replace economic reformer Lubomir Strougal, who resigned the day before after more than 18 years. Deputy Foreign Minister Jaromir Johanes replaced Bohuslav Chnoupek as foreign minister, and Frantisek Kincl replaced Vratislav Vajnar as interior minister. At the meeting, new party ideologist Jan Fojtik warned against “private-ownership, petit-bourgeois ideology” and rejected foreign criticism of Czechoslovakia’s tough approach to dissident movements.