Chapter 19 Politburo Resolution
Ever since Seryosha made a report in the Secretariat, and with the help of Gorbachev, Seryosha has become a role model among young cadres almost overnight. Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info
Seryosha had expected Gorbachev to show him something before returning home, but Seryosha did not expect to set himself up as a youth role model all at once. A large part of this is due to Foreign Minister Gromyko, who has been opposed to Gorbachev during this time. Gorbachev is now the youngest member of the Politburo and the only one under the age of 65. But in the Soviet Union, age became Gorbachev's disadvantage. The USSR was not a feudal state, and Stalin was the last leader of the country who could decide on his own successor. Beginning with Brezhnev, almost all decisions of the state were the result of a collective vote of the Politburo, and even the top leader had no right to call the shots.
Andropov originally hoped that Gorbachev would take over the position of general secretary, but Chernenko, Tikhonov and other general factions and Gromyko's men reached a secret agreement behind Andropov's back, and Chernenko became general secretary. This matter was leaked to Gorbachev by Andropov's widow. Perhaps for appeasement purposes, Chernenko made Gorbachev his deputy. But it is already the norm for a candidate for general secretary to retire at the next party congress, and Gorbachev's political future has almost been condemned to death. As long as there are no surprises, Gromyko will take over the post of general secretary after Chernenko.
After all, the Soviet leader can be recognized by the international community is also a very important political bargaining chip, and Gromyko is still the foreign minister, if he is overpressed by Gorbachev diplomatically, then the party cadres naturally think that Gorbachev is more capable than Gromyko.
Now Seryosha has completely branded himself as a Gorbachev faction and has become the most capable cadre among the Gorbachev faction (Yakovlev has committed it****** plus Seryosha is so young and so capable that it is the best counterproof to reverse the views of those party comrades that young cadres are not up to the task. Only by elevating Seryosha to a higher position will Gorbachev's age not be a matter of concern. So in addition to the contradictions in the kitchen, the issue of Seryosha's promotion has once again become the focus of the struggle between Gromyko and Gorbachev.
Immediately after Gorbachev instructed the state media to begin hyping Seryosha's advanced deeds, Gorbachev proposed that Seryosha take over the vacancies left by several deceased members of the Central Committee and enter the Central Committee as an alternate member of the Central Committee. For a while, General Secretary Chernenko did not say anything, but Gromyko and Grischen strongly opposed it.
"I oppose it, this kind of promotion by skipping the rank is simply a contempt for our cadre selection system, and it seriously violates the principle of organizing and appointing cadres. It is a serious injustice to those cadres who have come up step by step! Gromyko said loudly, slapping the table.
"Is that fair to a capable cadre like Seryosha? How many years has the ruins south of Moscow been deserted, if it weren't for Seryosha, it would still be the same over there! Seryosha served as secretary of the Communist Youth League Committee for two years, and he solved the old problems that had not been solved in Moscow for more than ten years! Gorbachev said unceremoniously. Without taking into account the feelings of the secretary of the Moscow Municipal Party Committee Grishin, Grishin's hands trembled a little, but he could not refute what Gorbachev said.
"I don't know much about Comrade Seryosha, but I also know some things about this comrade, he is indeed very capable, but being a member of the Central Committee at the age of twenty-five is still too child's play, right?" Tikhonov, chairman of the Joint Council of Ministers, made a statement.
"Is it because of these unreasonable reasons that such a capable comrade is put aside to waste his talents?" Gorbachev retorted.
Chernenko did not speak, he glared at Tikhonov. Chernenko thought to himself, now it's Gorbachev and Gromyko to make a life-and-death fight, what are you Tikhonov talking about? Do you also want to be a candidate for general secretary?
In fact, from Gorbachev's heart, he also knew that it was too unrealistic to win a member of the Central Committee for Seryosha. Gorbachev actually preferred Seryosha to join the Ministry of Foreign Trade to take charge of economic cooperation with Britain, because Yakovlev told him that Seryosha had a strong network of contacts in Britain. As for the errand in the Ministry of Agriculture, Gorbachev no longer intends to let Seryosha continue to do it, because Gorbachev knows that it is not an easy position to do.
"Comrade Grishen, Comrade Seryosha has worked in the Youth League Committee under you for so many years, and he is somewhat familiar with it, what is your evaluation of this comrade?" Chernenko didn't want the Politburo meeting to be endlessly entangled by the contradictions between Gorbachev and Gromyko, but it seems that if he doesn't speak, he won't want to finish the meeting today.
"This comrade has the ability, especially in the economic and trade field, but he always meddles in the work of other departments. In addition, I heard that his subordinates seemed to react that this comrade was a bit arbitrary in his work, and I thought that he was too young to stay in Moscow for a few more years! Grischen said with another purpose.
Chernenko knew that Gryshin would not praise Seryosha, that was what he wanted. He wanted to tell Gorbachev with Glishin's mouth that Seryosha's Central Committee members still don't think about it. Now Chernenko has jumped out of the factional struggle of the Politburo and is thinking from a higher position. He knew what he should pay attention to most crucially, and that was to get the Soviet economy up. Andropov carried out a series of reforms during his tenure, which did improve the current situation of food and daily necessities shortage to a certain extent, and Chernenko felt that Andropov's thinking was correct. Seryosha was known about a series of actions in Britain Chernenko, and he recognized the competence of this cadre in foreign trade. But it is impossible to be a member of the Central Committee.
"I want to say that in fact, our Ministry of Defense has always hoped that Comrade Seryosha could return to the army, he is our Hero of the Soviet Union, and he has rich management experience, and our logistics support department is lacking such a capable cadre?" Defense Minister Ustinov spoke, and this is what he really said. The army is Seryosha's mother's family, and the farther the typical figures set up by the army go in the officialdom, the more beneficial it will be for the Ministry of Defense.
"Comrade Gorbachev, what do you think about transferring Seryosha to the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation as an assistant minister? Tikhonov, the person was handed over to you, can you arrange it? Chernenko asked in an unquestioning tone.
"No problem, General Secretary!" Tikhonov replied.
"I agree, General Secretary!" Gorbachev is right in the game.
"Alright then, let's raise our hands!" Chernenko raised his hand after speaking, the assistant minister is a post at the level of deputy minister, and the appointment of officials at this level requires a democratic vote of the members of the Politburo.
Soon, everyone in the room raised their hands. Chernenko nodded, and then said: "That's it!" Comrade Ulyanov was dismissed from the post of director of the Grain Production Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture and transferred to the post of assistant minister of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation! ”