# Todor Zhivkov becomes prime minister (19 November 1962)

URL: https://allhistories.com/bulgaria/timeline/1962-todor-zhivkov-becomes-prime-minister
Location: Sofia
Themes: Rulers & Successions

On 19 November 1962 Todor Zhivkov, First Secretary of the Communist Party since 1954, also became prime minister, replacing Anton Yugov. At the party's Eighth Congress that month Yugov was accused of errors and removed, and Valko Chervenkov had already been expelled from the Politburo and later from the party. The change followed the renewed de-Stalinisation campaign launched by Nikita Khrushchev in 1961, which Zhivkov used to eliminate his remaining rivals. Combining the leadership of the party and the government, he became the unchallenged ruler of the country and remained prime minister until 1971.

## Why it matters
Zhivkov's assumption of the premiership completed his consolidation of power, beginning a personal rule that would last until 1989.

Ruler at the Time: [Todor Zhivkov](https://allhistories.com/bulgaria/rulers/todor-zhivkov)

Prime Minister: Todor Zhivkov (Bulgarian Communist Party)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Todor Zhivkov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Todor_Zhivkov)
- [Wikipedia — Anton Yugov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_Yugov)
- [Wikipedia — Valko Chervenkov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valko_Chervenkov)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Todor Zhivkov becomes prime minister](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Todor+Zhivkov+becomes+prime+minister)
- [Wikipedia — People's Republic of Bulgaria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People's_Republic_of_Bulgaria)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of Bulgarian history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Bulgarian_history)