Editing Prague Spring (section)

=== Action Programme ===
[[File:Říp, 10. 5. 1968.jpg|thumb|Ceremonial assembly held on 10 May 1968 on Mount Říp with the participation of the highest Czechoslovak leaders (in the front row, centre: President Ludvík Svoboda, Alexander Dubček, Čestmír Císař, Oldřich Černík, Josef Smrkovský and others)]]

At the 20th [[anniversary]] of Czechoslovakia's "[[Czechoslovak coup d'état of 1948|Victorious February]]", Dubček delivered a speech explaining the need for change following the triumph of socialism. He emphasized the need to "enforce the leading role of the party more effectively"<ref name="Navratil52">Navrátil (2006), pp. 52–54</ref><ref name="bulletin">{{cite news|last1=Vondrová|first1=Jitka|title=Pražské Jaro 1968 |url=http://abicko.avcr.cz/2008/4/04/prazske-jaro-1968.html|access-date=21 March 2018|work=Akademický bulletin|publisher=Akademie věd ČR|date=25 June 2008|language=cs}}</ref><ref name="Hoppe">{{cite news|last1=Hoppe|first1=Jiří|title=Co je Pražské jaro 1968?|url=https://iforum.cuni.cz/IFORUM-5993.html|access-date=21 March 2018|work=iForum|publisher=Charles University|date=6 August 2008|language=cs|archive-date=21 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321192951/https://iforum.cuni.cz/IFORUM-5993.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In April, Dubček launched an "[[Action Programme (1968)|Action Programme]]" of liberalizations, which included increasing freedom of the press, freedom of speech,<ref name="bulletin"/><ref name="Hoppe"/> and freedom of movement, with economic emphasis on [[consumer goods]] and the possibility of a multiparty government. The programme was based on the view that "Socialism cannot mean only liberation of the working people from the domination of exploiting class relations, but must make more provisions for a fuller life of the personality than any bourgeois democracy."<ref>Ello (1968), pp. 32, 54</ref> It would limit the power of the secret police<ref>{{Cite web | last1 = Von Geldern | first1 = James | last2 = Siegelbaum | first2 = Lewis | publisher = Soviethistory.org | title = The Soviet-led Intervention in Czechoslovakia | url = http://soviethistory.org/index.php?action=L2&SubjectID=1968czechoslovakia&Year=1968 | access-date = 7 March 2008 | archive-date = 17 August 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090817200255/http://soviethistory.org/index.php?action=L2&SubjectID=1968czechoslovakia&Year=1968 | url-status = live }}</ref> and provide for the [[Constitutional Law of Federation|federalization]] of the ČSSR into two equal nations.<ref name="Auto">Hochman, Dubček (1993)</ref> The programme also covered foreign policy, including both the maintenance of good relations with Western countries and cooperation with the Soviet Union and other [[Eastern Bloc]] nations.<ref name="Library">{{Cite news |author=Dubček, Alexander |translator=Kramer, Mark |translator2=Moss, Joy |translator3=Tosek, Ruth | title = Akční program Komunistické strany Československa| work = Action Program| pages = 1–6| language = cs| publisher = Rudé právo| date = 10 April 1968| url = http://library.thinkquest.org/C001155/documents/doc13.htm| access-date = 21 February 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080506101804/http://library.thinkquest.org/C001155/documents/doc13.htm| archive-date = 6 May 2008}}</ref> It spoke of a ten-year transition through which democratic elections would be made possible and a new form of democratic socialism would replace the status quo.<ref name="Postwar">Judt (2005), p. 441</ref> Those who drafted the Action Programme were careful not to criticize the actions of the post-war Communist regime, only to point out policies that they felt had outlived their usefulness.<ref name="Doc">Ello (1968), pp. 7–9, 129–31</ref> Although it was stipulated that reform must proceed under KSČ direction, popular pressure mounted to implement reforms immediately.<ref>{{Cite web| last = Derasadurain| first = Beatrice| title = Prague Spring| url = http://library.thinkquest.org/C001155/noframes/summary_spring.htm| access-date = 23 January 2008| publisher = thinkquest.org| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071114005849/http://library.thinkquest.org/C001155/noframes/summary_spring.htm| archive-date = 14 November 2007}}</ref> Radical elements became more vocal: anti-Soviet polemics appeared in the press on 26 June 1968,<ref name="Postwar"/> and new unaffiliated political clubs were created. Party conservatives urged repressive measures, but Dubček counselled moderation and re-emphasized KSČ leadership.<ref>Kusin (2002), pp. 107–22</ref> At the Presidium of the [[Communist Party of Czechoslovakia]] in April, Dubček announced a political programme of "[[socialism with a human face]]".<ref>{{Cite web | publisher = Library of Congress | url = http://www.country-studies.com/czech-republic/the-prague-spring,-1968.html | title = The Prague Spring, 1968 | year = 1985 | access-date = 5 January 2008 | archive-date = 28 April 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170428201613/http://country-studies.com/czech-republic/the-prague-spring,-1968.html | url-status = live }}</ref> At the time of the Prague Spring, Czechoslovak exports were declining in competitiveness, and Dubček's reforms planned to solve these troubles by mixing [[planned economy|planned]] and [[market economy|market economies]]. Dubček continued to stress the importance of economic reform proceeding under Communist Party rule.<ref>Williams (1997), pp. 18–22</ref>