Hu Yaobang

Hu was forced to resign as Chinese Communist Party general secretary in January 1987 after senior leaders blamed his tolerance of intellectual dissent for encouraging student protests. His relationship with the party elders also involved disputes over consultation and retirement, so the demonstrations were not the only source of conflict. He remained in the Politburo. This was a loss of the top party post after a policy and leadership rupture, rather than a formal departure from the party or complete removal from every office.