POLAND
The Communist Party voted to dissolve, then resurrected itself as the Social Democratic Party. Tadeusz Fiszbach, a popular party leader who quit in 1981 to protest martial law, said a neo-Communist group had "no credibility," and formed a breakaway organization called the Union of Social Democracy.
CZECHSLOVAKIA
Communists relinquished over 100 seats in the 350-seat Federal Assembly, which were then distributed among more than 40 new political parties. The move was aimed at giving reform groups a voice in parliament prior to June elections.
BULGARIA
The holdover Communist regime of Premier Georgi Atanasov resigned, and party chief Petar Mladenov, who had unsuccessfully called upon the opposition to join a "government of national consensus," was replaced by reformer Alexander Lilov. Todor Zhivkov, 78, in jail facing charges of misappropriation of state property and abuse of power, was hospitalized with "certain old-age ailments."
EAST GERMANY
The election date was advanced from May 6 to March 18, as Premier Hans Modrow warned that the economy was worsening and that the government could no longer ensure public safety. Nine reform groups agreed to each name a Minister Without Portfolio to join Modrow's Cabinet. Former leader Erich Honecker was arrested and then released, being too sick to remain in jail. The homeless ex- President and his wife Margot are staying with the village pastor of Lobetal, near Berlin. Honecker will be tried for treason in March.