Günther Maleuda (20 January 1931 – 18 July 2012) was an

East German East Germany, officially known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was a country in Central Europe from its formation on 7 October 1949 until its reunification with West Germany (FRG) on 3 October 1990. Until 1989, it was generally vie ...

politician. From November 1989 to April 1990 he was the President of the

People's Chamber The Volkskammer (, "People's Chamber") was the supreme power organ of East Germany. It was the only branch of government in the state, and per the principle of unified power, all state organs were subservient to it. The Volkskammer was initial ...

(East German Parliament).

Early years

He was born in Alt Beelitz, (today Stare Bielice,

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...

). In 1950 he joined the

Democratic Farmers' Party of Germany Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) ** Democratic Par ...

''(Demokratische Bauernpartei Deutschlands)''. From 1952 to 1955 he studied

Economics Economics () is a behavioral science that studies the Production (economics), production, distribution (economics), distribution, and Consumption (economics), consumption of goods and services. Economics focuses on the behaviour and interac ...

Career

From 1958 to 1967 Maleuda was a member of the district council of

Königs Wusterhausen Königs Wusterhausen (; , ) is a town in the Dahme-Spreewald district of the state of Brandenburg in Germany a few kilometers outside Berlin. Geography Geographical location Königs Wusterhausen – locally known as "KW" () or "KWh" ()– lie ...

, from 1967 to 1976 a member of the district council of

Potsdam Potsdam () is the capital and largest city of the Germany, German States of Germany, state of Brandenburg. It is part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. Potsdam sits on the Havel, River Havel, a tributary of the Elbe, downstream of B ...

and from 1976 to 1982 he was a member of the district council of Halle. In 1981 he was elected as a member of the

. From 1977 to 1990 he was a member of the Presidium of the

(DBD). On 27 March 1987 Maleuda became chairman of the DBD and at the same time a deputy chairman of the

Council of State A council of state is a governmental body in a country, or a subdivision of a country, with a function that varies by jurisdiction. It may be the formal name for the cabinet or it may refer to a non-executive advisory body associated with a head ...

. On 13 November 1989 he was the successor of Horst Sindermann as President of the

(until March 1990). Maleuda supported the reforms and took part in the round table negotiations. Although his party merged with the CDU in October 1990, Maleuda refused to be a member of the Christian Democratic Union. In 1994 he was elected as a (non-party) member of the

Bundestag The Bundestag (, "Federal Diet (assembly), Diet") is the lower house of the Germany, German Federalism in Germany, federal parliament. It is the only constitutional body of the federation directly elected by the German people. The Bundestag wa ...

(German Parliament) on the PDS list. He remained a member until 1998.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maleuda, Gunther 1931 births 2012 deaths People from Strzelce-Drezdenko County Politicians from the Province of Brandenburg Democratic Farmers' Party of Germany politicians Party of Democratic Socialism (Germany) politicians Members of the State Council of East Germany Presidents of the Volkskammer Members of the 8th Volkskammer Members of the 9th Volkskammer Members of the 10th Volkskammer Members of the Bundestag for Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Members of the Bundestag 1994–1998 Recipients of the Patriotic Order of Merit in gold Members of the Bundestag for the Party of Democratic Socialism (Germany)