Valko Chervenkov | |
---|---|
Вълко Червенков | |
![]() Chervenkov in 1953 | |
34th Prime Minister of Bulgaria | |
In office 23 January 1950 – 18 April 1956 Acting to 3 February 1950 | |
Preceded by | Vasil Kolarov |
Succeeded by | Anton Yugov |
Deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria | |
In office 20 July 1949 – 3 February 1950 | |
General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party | |
In office 15 July 1949 – 26 January 1954 | |
Preceded by | Georgi Dimitrov |
Succeeded by | Todor Zhivkov |
Personal details | |
Born | Zlatitsa, Principality of Bulgaria | 6 September 1900
Died | 21 October 1980 Sofia, People's Republic of Bulgaria | (aged 80)
Political party | BCP (1919–1962, 1969-1980) |
Spouse | Elena Dimitrova (sister of Georgi Dimitrov) (1902–1974) |
Valko Velyov Chervenkov[1] (Bulgarian: Вълко Вельов Червенков) (6 September 1900 – 21 October 1980) was a Bulgarian communist politician. He served as leader of the Communist Party between 1949 and 1954, and Prime Minister between 1950 and 1956.
His rule was marked by the consolidation of the Stalinist model, rapid industrialisation, collectivisation and large-scale persecution of political opponents.
Stalin's death in 1953 had repercussions in Bulgaria. In 1954, Chervenkov accepted the Soviet model of collective leadership and handed over his post as party leader to Todor Zhivkov. The government also released a large number of political prisoners and directed its economic policy towards improving living standards rather than accelerating industrialization.