Upheaval In Poland’s Leadership Forecast

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31653, 13 April 1968, Page 13

Upheaval In Poland’s Leadership Forecast

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

WARSAW, April 12. , i ! he Defence Minister (Marshal Marian Spycnalski) took over as Poland’s new Head of State today amid a eries of Government changes which observers believe could herald a major shake-up in the country’s Communist leadership.

Marshal Spychalski’s unanimous election by Parliament yesterday, to succeed Mr Edward Ochab as chairman of the Council of State, made way for Lieuten-ant-General Wojciech Jaruzelski to take over Poland’s armed forces.

Shortly afterwards the Army announced the appointment of three new deputy defence ministers: and in

other Government changes two ministers were replaced, one deputy minister was dismissed and two new deputy foreign ministers were named The changes were approved at the end of a two-day parliamentary debate on last month's student demonstrations throughout Poland, and their political aftermath. Observers believe the changes could be the first stage of a major upheaval in the country’s leadership brought about by writers’ and students’ demands for democratic and intellectual freedoms. Mr Ochab, who, at 61, is the same age as Marshal Spychalski, had been asked to step down for health reasons. Both men are close as-

sociates of the party chief (Mr Wladyslaw Gomulka). Marshal Spychalski, a former architect began his military career in the Communist underground movement during World War 2. He fell from favour in 1949 and was imprisoned, but was rehabilitated in 1956, when Mr Gomulka was recalled to office. Parliament’s approval, without dissent, of the balding, hut youthful-looking General Jaruzelski as defence chief makes him the youngest minister in a senior post. He is considered a member of militant nationalist group of Communists known as “The Partisans” and headed by the jMinister of the Interior (Mr iMieszyslaw Moczar).