Vol. 19 · No. 1 · Issue 58 · Spring 2001 · pp. 61-79 (19)

Jonathan Olsen

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Abstract

The Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS) stands at a political crossroad. In October 2000, Gregor Gysi resigned as parliamentary leader of the PDS, and, though pledging to remain active in the party, he will no longer hold any important party post. Gysi's resignation was no surprise, since he had already announced his intentions at the PDS's controversial Parteitag in Münster in March 2000. Nevertheless, the reality of a "post-Gysi" PDS has only now begun to settle in. More than any other politician in Germany—and perhaps more than any German politician in recent memory—Gysi personified his party. The sense of anxiousness among PDS leaders and the majority of the party rank-and-file in the wake of Gysi's departure is palpable.