Ex-East German PM on trial

Monday 19 April 1993 23:02 BST

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Hans Modrow, the last Communist prime minister of East Germany, goes on trial today for alleged vote rigging in his days as powerful party leader of the Dresden region, Reuter reports from Dresden.

In late 1989, Modrow was viewed as an East German equivalent of the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev because he promised Communism with democratic reforms. He took over as prime minister in a Communist-led transition government after a peaceful pro-democracy uprising forced out hardline Stalinist leaders in October 1989. But his Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS), renamed successor to the Communist Party (SED), was pushed out of government in the country's first free elections in March 1990.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Thank you for registering

Ex-East German PM on trial

Join our commenting forum

Thank you for registering