Premier of the Soviet Union

Summary

The Premier of the Soviet Union (Russian: Глава Правительства СССР) was the head of government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). Twelve individuals held the post. Among the most known are Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin.

Premier of the Soviet Union
Глава Правительства СССР (Russian)
Longest serving
Alexei Kosygin

15 October 1964 – 23 October 1980
StyleMr. Premier
(informal)
His Excellency
(diplomatic)
TypeHead of government
Reports toSupreme Soviet
ResidenceKremlin Senate, Moscow
AppointerSupreme Soviet
Formation6 July 1923; 100 years ago (1923-07-06)
First holderVladimir Lenin
Final holderIvan Silayev
Abolished26 December 1991; 32 years ago (1991-12-26)
SuccessionPrime Minister of Russia
DeputyFirst Deputy Premier
Deputy Premier

Names edit

The office had four different names throughout its existence: Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars (1923–1946), Chairman of the Council of Ministers (1946–1991), Prime Minister (January – August 1991) and Chairman of the Committee on the Operational Management of the Soviet Economy (August–December 1991). Long before 1991, most non-Soviet sources referred to the post as "Premier" or "Prime Minister."

History edit

Lenin's First Government was created on 6 July 1923 by the Central Executive Committee with Lenin as its first chairman. The government was empowered to initiate decrees and legislation that were binding throughout the USSR.[1] The longest serving premier in the history of the USSR was Alexei Kosygin, who was appointed head of government after the ousting of Nikita Khrushchev in 1964. However, Kosygin's prestige was weakened when he proposed the economic reform of 1965.[2] In 1991, upon Valentin Pavlov's ascension to the premiership, the Council of Ministers was abolished and replaced with the Cabinet of Ministers. After the August coup of 1991, the majority of the cabinet members endorsed the coup, leading to the Cabinet of Ministers dissolving and being replaced by the Committee on the Operational Management of the Soviet Economy. The government of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic began seizing Soviet ministries in the aftermath of the coup, and by December 1991 the Soviet government had completely lost control of itself and shut down entirely.[3]

Under the 1977 Soviet Constitution, the head of government was the leader of the highest executive and administrative organ of state. The head of government was appointed by and accountable to the Supreme Soviet (and its Presidium).[4] The head of government was tasked with resolving all state administrative duties within the jurisdiction of the USSR to the degree which were not the responsibility of the Supreme Soviet or its Presidium. The head of government managed the national economy, formulated the five-year plans and ensured socio-cultural development.[5] It functioned as the most influential office of government until the establishment of the Office of the President of the Soviet Union in 1990.

Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin died in office of natural causes, and three premiers resigned—Alexei Kosygin, Nikolai Tikhonov and Ivan Silayev. Another three were concurrently party leader and head of government (Lenin, Stalin and Nikita Khrushchev). The one who spent the shortest time in office was Ivan Silayev, at 119 days. Kosygin spent the longest time in office—16 years.

List of officeholders edit

No.[a] Portrait Name
(Birth–death)
Term Electorate Cabinets Ref.
Took office Left office Duration
1
 
Vladimir Lenin
(1870–1924)
6 July 192321 January 1924 228 daysLenin III[6]
2
 
Alexei Rykov
(1881–1938)
2 February 192419 December 19306 years, 320 days1924
1925
1927
1929
Rykov I–IIIIIIVV[7]
3
 
Vyacheslav Molotov
(1890–1986)
19 December 19306 May 194110 years, 138 days1931
1935
1936
1937
Molotov I–IIIII–IV[8]
4
 
Joseph Stalin
(1878–1953)
6 May 19415 March 1953 11 years, 303 days1946
1950
Stalin III–III[9]
5
 
Georgy Malenkov
(1902–1988)
6 March 19538 February 19551 year, 339 days1954Malenkov III[10]
6
 
Nikolai Bulganin
(1895–1975)
8 February 195527 March 19583 years, 47 days1958Bulganin[11]
7
 
Nikita Khrushchev
(1894–1971)
27 March 195815 October 19646 years, 202 days1962Khrushchev I–II[10]
8
 
Alexei Kosygin
(1904–1980)
15 October 196423 October 198016 years, 8 days1966
1970
1974
1979
Kosygin IIIIIIIVV[12]
9
 
Nikolai Tikhonov
(1905–1997)
23 October 198027 September 19854 years, 339 days1984Tikhonov III[13]
10
 
Nikolai Ryzhkov
(1929–2024)
27 September 198514 January 19915 years, 109 days1989Ryzhkov I–II[13]
11
 
Valentin Pavlov
(1937–2003)
14 January 199128 August 1991[b]226 daysPavlov[14]
12
 
Ivan Silayev
(1930–2023)
28 August 199125 December 1991119 daysSilayev[15]

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ These numbers are not official.
  2. ^ On August 19, 1991, due to the illness of Valentin Pavlov, the duties of the head of the government of the USSR were assigned to First Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Doguzhiyev.

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ Центральный Исполнительный Комитет съезда Советов. Статья №38 от Декабрь 1977 «Суверенные права союзных республик». (Central Executive Committee of the Congress of Soviets. Article #38 of December 1924 Sovereign Rights of the Member Republics. ).
  2. ^ Brown 2009, p. 403.
  3. ^ Ferdinand 1993, p. 133.
  4. ^ Верховный Совет СССР. Федеральный конституционный закон №130 от 7 октября 1977 «Совета Министров СССР». (Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union. Article #130 of 7 October 1977 The Council of Ministers of the USSR. ).
  5. ^ Верховный Совет СССР. Федеральный конституционный закон №131 от 7 октября 1977 «Совета Министров СССР». (Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union. Article #131 of 7 October 1977 The Council of Ministers of the USSR. ).
  6. ^ Cull, Culbert & Welch 2003, p. 182.
  7. ^ Phillips 2000, p. 82.
  8. ^ Phillips 2000, p. 89.
  9. ^ Totten & Bartrop 2008, p. 76.
  10. ^ a b Duiker & Spielvogel 2006, p. 572.
  11. ^ Trahair & Miller 2004, p. 69.
  12. ^ Trahair & Miller 2004, p. 37.
  13. ^ a b Ploss 2010, p. 219.
  14. ^ Валентин Сергеевич Павлов [Valentin Sergeyevich Pavlov] (in Russian). RU: Hrono. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  15. ^ Иван Степанович Силаев [Ivan Stepanovich Silayev] (in Russian). RU: Hrono. Retrieved 6 December 2010.

Sources edit