THE COURSE OF REFORMS UNDER GORBACHEV

The path of major political reforms in the Soviet Union since Mikhail S. Gorbachev took power on March 11, 1985: July, 1986: The Communist Party Central Committee says local parliaments will take more responsibility. June, 1988: Special party conference approves sweeping political reform, promising shift of power from party to government and a new legal system. Totalitarianism is rejected. Gorbachev suggests that each local party leader should seek and win election to the corresponding government post. October, 1988: Constitutional amendments proposed to change the rubber-stamp parliament to a real, nearly full-time legislature and provide for contested elections. March, 1989: First contested elections for the new Congress of People’s Deputies result in humiliating defeats for dozens of Communist leaders across the country. May, 1989: The first session of the Congress of People’s Deputies opens, and the nation is fascinated with the critical speeches of its new members. December, 1989: Lithuania approves multi-party system on its territory; later in December, Lithuanian Communists create first split with the national party by voting to break off and form independent Communist Party. Jan. 13, 1990: Gorbachev, on a visit to Lithuania, drops his opposition to a multi-party system. Jan. 21: Reform Communists meet in Moscow to write alternative party platform and threaten to split off into a new party unless reforms are made. Feb 5: Gorbachev asks Communist Party leadership to give up its exclusive hold on power. Feb 7: Soviet Communist Party votes to give up its 70-year monopoly on power in a move to create a pluralistic political system.