NID: EAST GERMANY: PRESSURE FOR POWER SHARING RISES

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: The Collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe: A 30-Year Legacy
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06826780
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 26, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 10, 2019
• Publication Date: November 7, 1989

Approved for Release: 2019/10/29 C06826780
EAST GERMANY: Pressure for Power Sharing Rises
A record number of demonstrators turned out in Leipzig yesrerda amid
signs of rifts in the Communist Party over power sharing.
Some 500,000 demonstrators marched yesterday in Leipzig to
demand free elections, totally free travel, and an end to the party's
leading role
he party is split over whether to begin formal talks with
opposition groups.
.A new draft law, which was published yesterday. gives all East
Germans the right to travel outside the countr; at least 30 days a year
and to turn a visit into a permanent change oi' residence: application
procedures and financing, however, remain a problem. The
opposition group New Forum labeled the reforms inadequate.
the regime intends to formally abolish
the Ministry of State Security and reconstitute it as a division of the
Interior Ministry. The security force allegedly will be halved.
Comment: The demonstration in Leipzig uncic rscores public
skepticism over East German leader Krenz's ieforms. Party
sentiment for power sharing may bring about open clashes at
tomorrow's Central Committee session and will put pressure on
Krenz to make a gesture toward the opposition. For example, he
might be prepared to resign as head of state and turn that position
and the one of legislative speaker over to one of the allied parties.
Public skepticism about the allied parties' aumomy and doubts
about whether Krenz is willing to share powei would undermine the
effectiveness of such gestures. If carried out. catbacks in the security
force would make the loyalty of those remaining questionable if the
regime imposed a crackdown.
The draft travel law substantially liberalizes cdsting regulations.
But the reaction of New Forum and the continuing flow of
emigres suggest such measures will not stern the exodus.
ICS 2959/89
7 November 1989
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Approved for Release: 2019/10/29 C06826780