Reformists Win in Hungary : 4 Politburo Members Ousted in Shake-Up

BUDAPEST, Hungary — The ruling Communist Party ousted ideology chief Janos Berecz and top party administrator Janos Lukacs today in a major shake-up of its supreme Politburo.

Berecz and Lukacs were among four Politburo members dropped after the entire 11-member body resigned at a closed-door session of the party’s 108-member Central Committee, party spokesman Laszlo Major said.

A secret ballot elected a new nine-member Politburo, confirming Karoly Grosz at its head as general secretary.

Apart from Lukacs and Berecz, the two Politburo members not reelected were Health Minister Judit Csehak and Istvan Szabo, representing the agricultural lobby.

The two incoming members are Budapest party leader Mihaly Jasso and the party leader of Csongrad county, Pal Vastagh.

Removing more conservative elements in the leadership, the moves appeared designed to prevent reformers from splitting away from the rest of the party.

A one-time rival of Grosz to take over as party leader, Berecz began preaching reform policies in recent months. But Western diplomats said Berecz was not trusted by leading party reformers and had lost the confidence of traditionalists who had supported him earlier.