The General Secretary of the Communist Party held a crucial position in Soviet political history, wielding considerable authority over the Soviet Union. Mikhail Gorbachev, a key Soviet figure, initiated significant reforms, namely perestroika (restructuring) and glasnost (openness).
Mikhail Gorbachev assumed the role of General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1985. This event signified the commencement of his leadership and the initiation of profound alterations within the Soviet Union.