Alexander Dubcek was a Slovak politician, best remembered for the key role he played during the Prague Spring, a period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia during the era of its domination by the Soviet Union after World War II. He was a reformist who attempted to bring about democracy in the country and decentralization of the economy in order to ensure that the citizens acquired additional rights in the governance. He also aimed to loosen the restrictions on media and encourage freedom of speech. He had been interested in politics from a young age and was active in underground activities during the World War II. He believed in the ideals of communism and joined the Communist Party of Slovakia (KSS). His political career in the Communist Czechoslovakia saw a steady rise after the war and he eventually became secretary of the Slovak Communist Party. During the 1960s the citizens were growing increasingly dissatisfied with the administration of Antonín Novotný who was the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia as well as the President of Czechoslovakia. Soon Novotný was forced to resign and Dubcek replaced him becoming First Secretary of the Slovak branch of the party. As the leader, he promoted political liberalization and sought to liberalize the Communist regime in spite of being a staunch communist himself