Saturday, 13. January 1990

For the first time, West German politicians publicly advocate a »German-German economic and monetary union« as the speediest means to achieve German unity even before the clarification of political unification, as the latter is dependent upon many unresolved foreign policy issues. According to Erich Riedl (CSU), Parliamentary Undersecretary in the West German Federal Ministry of the Economy, the goal should be a gradual, clearly defined growing together of the two economies. Matthias Wissmann, the parliamentary expert on economic policy for the CDU/CSU, recommends officially permitting the West German mark to function as a parallel currency. He says this must be followed immediately by radical price reforms, so that, as the next step, the West German mark can be officially introduced as a common currency.

Thousands of parents storm the department stores this Saturday morning to stockpile children's items before the price increases slated to go into effect on Monday. Mothers and fathers wait for hours on long lines to enter children's shoe and sweater departments. At the beginning of the coming week, prices for highly subsidized children's items will rise two to threefold.

Prime Minister Modrow suggests closer cooperation with opposition representatives and offers Ibrahim Böhme, the SDP manager, a position as Deputy Minister of the Environment.

The first conference of delegates of the Social Democratic Party in East Germany (SDP) in East Berlin decides, by an overwhelming majority, to adopt the name SPD for the party. In this way, it acknowledges its links to the SPD, dissolved in 1946 after the founding of the SED, and its connections to its West German sister party. The name change also clears the way for claims to former SPD party assets taken over in 1946 by the SED.

Demonstrations take place this evening in 15 cities against the attempt by the SED-PDS to reclaim its power. Forty thousand people gather in Plauen alone.