Social Democratic Party in the GDR

The Social Democratic Party in the GDR (SDP, later SPD) was a political party that emerged in the turn time in the German Democratic Republic (GDR). It was founded on October 7, 1989 in Schwante in Berlin and joined on September 26, 1990 in Berlin with the Social Democratic Party of Germany ( SPD).

History

Main initiators were the Protestant theologian Martin Gutzeit and Markus Meckel, who performed the substantive and organizational preparation. In April 1989, a first draft of a founding manifesto was written, which was presented on 26 August in Berlin's Calvary Church. This call was signed by Gutzeit, Meckel, the student pastor Arndt Noack and director Ibrahim Böhme.

At the inaugural meeting of the party in the rectory in Schwante attended between 40 and 50 people, including Angelika Barbe, Ibrahim Böhme, Konrad Elmer, Martin Gutzeit, Stephan MoP Torsten 's help, Thomas Krüger, Sabine Leger, Markus Meckel, Anne Marie and Matthias Müller, Arndt Noack, Steffen Reiche and Reiner Rühle. First, the party's spokesperson, the programmer Stephan MoP was elected, was managing director Ibrahim Böhme.

In season from October to December 1989 regional groups of the SDP were established in different cities. The SDP was given two seats on the Central Round Table of the GDR. As of January 13, 1990, the party led by a decision of the first delegates conference in Berlin the abbreviation SPD, which clarified a turn to the West German Social Democracy. During this time, the establishment of the district and regional organizations of the party falls. On January 29, the SPD of the GDR sent with Walter Romberg representative as Minister without portfolio in the government of Hans Modrow.

The first party congress from 22 to 25 February Leipzig brought to a choice of the first party executive. Ibrahim Böhme was elected on 23 February as chairman. Furthermore, the basic program and a statute of the SPD in the GDR, it was decided at this congress. Finally, this session can be seen as a kind of electoral party three weeks before the election to the People's Chamber on March 18. At the same Congress of the GDR was elected on February 24, Willy Brandt as honorary chairman of the SPD.

The parliamentary elections brought a disappointment for the Social Democrats. Instead of hoping for an absolute majority, the SPD took 21.7 percent of the vote in Parliament. The best results they achieved in the districts of Berlin ( 34.9 %), Potsdam ( 34.4 % ) and Frankfurt ( Oder) ( 31.9 %). By far the worst result achieved by the Social Democrats in the district of Dresden with 9.7%. After internal discussions, it was agreed, in coalition negotiations with the victors, the Alliance for Germany from the CDU, DSU and Democratic Awakening and the Alliance of Free Democrats to enter.

In the time of the coalition negotiations, the unmasking of the Chairman Ibrahim Böhme was a long-time employee of the Ministry for State Security of the news magazine Der Spiegel. Although he denied all allegations, he entered on April 1, back from all his party posts, he was expelled from the SPD in 1992. On April 8, Markus Meckel was appointed interim chairman of the SPD of the GDR, up to a special party conference in Halle ( Saale) was elected on June 9 Thierse chairman. From 12 April to 20 August 1990, the SPD of the GDR was involved in the government of Christian Democrats Lothar de Maizière with six ministers, the best known names were there Markus Meckel ( exterior ), Regine Hildebrandt ( Social Affairs) and Walter Romberg (finance). Reinhard Hoeppner was Vice President of the People's Chamber.

At the party on 26 September 1990, the SPD of the GDR united with the West German SPD.