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Article: Eastern ghosts: Germany.(East German Party for Democratic Socialism, PDS, fights for survival in Berlin local elections)
- Article from:
- The Economist (US)
- Article date:
- August 12, 1995
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1995 Economist Newspaper Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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THE ghosts of the old East Germany are out on a haunting spree. Erich Mielke, the former Stasi--secret-police--chief and head ogre of the communist regime, has been released from jail. Hans Modrow, who took command of the shattered dictatorship after the Berlin Wall fell, has been in court accused of vote-rigging. And now the top brass of the East German army, ten ex-generals, are to be tried for failing to stop their soldiers shooting compatriots who tried to escape across the Wall. Paradoxically, such phantoms might help boost the sagging fortunes of the political party whose predecessor they served.
The Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS), successor to the rigid ...