ABSTRACT
In May 1982, Brezhnev's personnel politics were dealt a severe blow when Andropov, supported by a faction including Defense Minister Ustinov and Foreign Minister Gromyko, returned to the CC-Secretariat, thereby disputing the succession of Chernenko's heir apparent. All his undeniable weaknesses notwithstanding, Chernenko was favored by the majority of the Politburo over the considerably younger Gorbachev. After Andropov had become the Party's leader, he took so firm a stand in public as to suggest he had the support of the entire Party leadership. Under Andropov, however, there was no consensus in the Politburo on more comprehensive economic measures. In November 1982, the new secretary general declared that there were no ready answers, demonstrating, in essence, his helplessness. Soviet leadership is clearly dissatisfied with the condition of their country's economy, but has thus for shied away from relentlessly exposing the causes for the unsatisfactory state of affairs.
