APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110010-2
The federalization law was a hastily drafted document and when promulgated was far from complete, causing considerable administrative confusion and leading to disputes between Czechs and Slovaks, each fearful that the other was getting undue advantage. The composition and responsibilities of the bicameral Federal Assembly—featuring a coequal Chamber of Nations, alongside the traditional Chamber of the People—was an early issue, as was the yet untested division of powers between federal and national governments. The abolition of 16 federal ministries and their replacement by federal "committees" posed serious staffing problems, particularly among the Slovaks who had fewer qualified officials. There were inadequate national organizations in both the Czech lands and Slovakia. Moreover, the Czechs and Slovaks were to implement federalization at different speeds, when tandem cooperation was vital to the program's success.
When Gustav Husak took over as party First Secretary in April 1969, it was his purpose quickly to reinstate strict centralized control of the country as the only possible course in the face of military occupation and the threat of a serious confrontation between the populace and Soviet troops. Federalization—in terms of the political and administrative separateness initially envisaged—proved incompatible with Husak's new policy of "realism," and he has subsequently whittled away most regional authority, placing the federal government both national administrations under tight party control. In June 1970 a special party commission was set up to review and propose changes in the federalization law. The commission's recommendations resulted in the enactment of additional legislation in December 1970 which further reduced the regional autonomy of Czech and Slovak authorities in economic and administrative matters. Figure 4 depicts the federal arrangement, as amended.
(1) Legislature — The bicameral legislature, known as the Federal Assembly, consists of a Chamber of the People (the former National Assembly), and a Chamber of Nations. The Chamber of the People consists of 200 deputies elected on a proportional basis. The Chamber of Nations consists of 75 Czech and 75 Slovak representatives elected by the respective national legislatures, the popularly elected Czech and Slovak National Councils. Legislation must be approved by both chambers to become laws of the land.
The Federal Assembly is governed by a Chairman, a First Vice Chairman, and a 40-member Presidium, which consists of 20 deputies from the Chamber of the People, and 10 Czechs and 10 Slovaks from the Chamber of Nations. The Chairman and First Vice Chairman are elected in joint session of the assembly, and must alternate between Czech and Slovak. Dalibor Hanes, a Slovak and pro-Husak moderate, replaced Alexander Dubcek as Chairman of the Federal Assembly on 15 October 1969—the latter's last significant post. In December 1971, Hanes himself was replaced by Alois Indra, a Czech and one of the most conservative, pro-Soviet members of the Communist Party's policymaking Presidium. Hanes remained a member of the Federal Assembly's Presidium, however, receiving the additional post of Chairman of the Chamber of Nations. Vaclav David, who served as Foreign Minister from 1953 to 1968 and is a sycophant of the Soviets, was named Chairman of the Chamber of the People.
The Federal Assembly Presidium carries out the duties of the Federal Assembly when the latter is not in session. It cannot, however, elect a President of the Republic, make a decision on peace or war, adopt the federal budget, or pass on a vote of confidence asked by the government. The Presidium issues decrees which become invalid unless approved by the next session of the Federal Assembly.
This reshuffling of the legislative leadership followed the first national elections since the 1968 invasion, held on 26-27 November 1971. The elections scheduled for November 1968 clearly had to be scrubbed in view of the unsettled political and constitutional conditions. The 1971 elections were held in a traditional, closely controlled manner in an atmosphere of intimidation and some antiregime pamphleteering by dissident intellectuals.
During the Novotny era, regular sessions of the National Assembly were largely devoted to approving legislative measures submitted by the President's cabinet. Parliamentary committees met outside the regular sessions to discuss legislation, to hear reports, and to draft recommendations. To expedite the implementation of measures, a parliamentary presidium—consisting of 30 deputies selected by the party and elected by the assembly—sat year round and approved measures on a "temporary" basis. In this manner, the government could proceed in its course without waiting for the formal approval of the whole assembly in regular session.
Beginning in 1963, the Novotny regime responded to demands for more rational, democratic government by granting the National Assembly greater responsibilities in policy and legislative matters as well as greater control over governmental ministries. The
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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110010-2
