 In the second part of his rule (from 1976 onwards), the anti-national policy was less harsh, and economic development expanded in the Moldavian SSR.Bodiul was known as one of the most loyal followers of Leonid Brezhnev, a predecessor in his role as Moldavian First Secretary.He served as Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR from 1980 to May 1985, when he retired from active politics as the reformist Gorbachev era commenced.