Answer:
I think that Mikhail Gorbachev was responsible for the end of communism in Europe. By allowing local officials to have more power, he gave up some of his own power, potentially to those who may disagree with communism. While a good decision from him, it was not in communism's best interest. This gave these countries an urge to see where the boundaries are. Countries such as Hungary elected their own presidents and surprisingly, the USSR let them do this.
