BREZHNEV NOW ‘NUMBER ONE’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31247, 20 December 1966, Page 21

BREZHNEV NOW ‘NUMBER ONE’

(N.Z.P.A. -Reuter— Copyright) MOSCOW, December 19.

The Secretary-General of the Soviet Communist Party, Mr Leonid Brezhnev, today—his 60th birthday—receives the “hero of the Soviet Union” award before the 1157 deputies of the Supreme Soviet at the Kremlin.

The award, Russia’s highest honour, was announced by the Kremlin yesterday. It confirmed Mr Brezhnev as the number one Soviet leader, observers at Moscow said. The award was accompanied by the most glowing tribute accorded any Soviet statesman since it was conferred on the former Premier Nikita Khrushchev two years ago.

Mr Brezhnev, now aged 60, Was expected to address the assembled deputies, but it was not clear beforehand whether he would use the occasion for a major political speech.

The Supreme Soviet, which ended its budget session yesterday, was apparently kept in session a day longer for Mr Brezhnev to be honoured.

The burly, bushy-browed Party leader has been rapidly moving towards this position, but without a public build-up of his personality, since Mr Khrushchev was removed in October, 1964.

During the last year, less and less has been heard of the “collective leadership” S alley enunciated by Mr rezhnev and the Prime Minister. Mr Alexei Kosygin, when they took* over.