Lubomir Strougal, a Czechoslovak communist-era chief who served as prime minister for a report size of greater than 18 years, has died

PRAGUE — Lubomir Strougal, a Czechoslovak communist-era chief who served as prime minister for a report size of greater than 18 years has died. He was 98.

His dying was confirmed to media by former Communist Get together lawmaker Jiri Dolejs on Monday. No particulars got.

Strougal was appointed prime minister in 1970, when the nation was dominated by a hard-line communist regime established following the 1968 Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia.

Warsaw Pact troops invaded in August 1968 to crush political reforms and anti-communist protests through the period often known as the Prague Spring.

Strougal initially opposed the invasion however later joined the hard-liners.

After Soviet chief Mikhail Gorbachev launched a reform program often known as ″perestroika,″ or restructuring, Strougal was thought-about a practical reformer.

However the hard-liners led by Milous Jakes prevailed, with Strougal resigning from his put up in 1988 — a 12 months earlier than the Velvet Revolution led by Vaclav Havel ended greater than 41 years of communist rule.

Authorized makes an attempt after 1989 failed to carry Strougal answerable for the communist-era persecution and the deaths of individuals killed at Czechoslovakia’s borders whereas making an attempt to flee for the West.

Born Oct 19, 1924 in Veseli nad Luznici, Strougal was a member of the Communist Get together’s management for 3 a long time and likewise served as agriculture minister and inside minister earlier than turning into prime minister.

He retired from politics in 1989 and was expelled from the celebration a 12 months later.