Chernenko’s pledge

Press, 12 April 1984, Page 11

Chernenko’s pledge

NZPA-Reuter Moscow The Soviet Communist Party leader, Konstantin Chernenko, pledged yesterday to continue economic and administrative reforms which are strongly backed by his rivals in the ruling Politburo.

The 72-year-old Kremlin chief gave the commitment in a speech to a meeting of the central committee amid signs that his own supporters were building up a personality cult around him to bolster his political strength.

Mr Chernenko said that the leadership would continue to look for “new forms and structures” of economic management and planned to scale down the state bureaucracy, according to a summary of the speech by the Tass news agency. Both measures were promoted under Mr Chernenko’s predecessor, Yuri Andropov, in a bid to raise efficiency by giving industrial managers greater independence and slashing restrictive red tape. Western diplomats said that Mr Chernenko’s commitment had showed that he still had to bow to the demands of younger Politburo members who were determined to continue Mr Andropov’s policies. Chief among those was Mr Mikhail Gorbachev, aged 53, who was believed to have rivalled Mr Chernenko for the leadership in February, they said. But indications of a growing “Chernenko cult” emerged yesterday and diplomats said that it appeared that his backers, many of whom are believed to oppose the reform programme, were trying to boost his political strength.

The ' Army daily, “Krasnaya Zvezda” (Red Star) carried a glowing report of Mr Chernenko’s service as a border guard in the early 19305, describing him as a dashing horseman who knew no fear of the guerrillas fighting Communist rule in Soviet Central Asia.

Tass said that Mr Chernenko had emphasised the need to pare the State administration at every level, even the highest, and force many officials to move to jobs on the factory floor.

“Whether or not this is going to please everyone, it is still an absolute necessity,” he said. ' The party’s plenum was held before a session of the Supreme Soviet (Parliament), opening today, at which Kremlin-watchers believe that Mr Chernenko will be named State President.

Mr Chernenko said that the plenum had approved appointments to be made at the session and also had discussed widening the powers of some State bodies.

The Supreme Soviet will pass a school reform law which will, among other things, lower the age at which children begin school from seven to six.

The reform also envisages a 35 per cent pay rise for teachers and calls for a vigorous campaign to improve technical education while winning youngsters’ hearts to the Communist cause away from “degenerate" Western trends that tempt many. Mr Chernenko’s speech yesterday called for more lively debate in the Parliament, but Western analysts were scentical.