Karel Urbánek (born 22 March 1941 in
Bojkovice,
Moravia
Moravia ( , also , ; cs, Morava ; german: link=yes, Mähren ; pl, Morawy ; szl, Morawa; la, Moravia) is a historical region in the east of the Czech Republic and one of three historical Czech lands, with Bohemia and Czech Silesia.
The ...
) is a retired Czech politician, and the last
Communist leader of
Czechoslovakia
, rue, Чеськословеньско, , yi, טשעכאסלאוואקיי,
, common_name = Czechoslovakia
, life_span = 1918–19391945–1992
, p1 = Austria-Hungary
, image_p1 ...
.
Career
A former
Bojkovice railway station manager, he replaced
Miloš Jakeš as Secretary General of the
Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia ( Czech and Slovak: ''Komunistická strana Československa'', KSČ) was a communist and Marxist–Leninist political party in Czechoslovakia that existed between 1921 and 1992. It was a member of the Comint ...
after a swift election on 24 November 1989 in the wake of the
Velvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution ( cs, Sametová revoluce) or Gentle Revolution ( sk, Nežná revolúcia) was a non-violent transition of power in what was then Czechoslovakia, occurring from 17 November to 28 November 1989. Popular demonstrations agains ...
. Four days later, he gave his approval to a constitutional amendment which stripped the Communist Party of its monopoly of power, which proved to be the only major decision of his tenure. However, Communist rule had effectively ended with Jakeš' resignation.
He remained as party leader until 20 December 1989, when he was succeeded by
Ladislav Adamec
Ladislav Adamec (10 September 1926 – 14 April 2007) was a Czechoslovak communist politician.
Early life
Adamec was born in Moravia on 10 September 1926.
Career
Adamec joined the Presidium in March 1987 and served as the prime minister o ...
.
References
1941 births
Living people
People from Bojkovice
Czech communists
Leaders of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
People of the Velvet Revolution
{{CzechRepublic-politician-stub