Stranka demokratskog socijalizma (PDS) u političkom sustavu Njemačke
PARTY OF DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM (PDS) IN THE GERMAN POLITICAL SYSTEM

Summary/Abstract: After the first elections for the Federal parliament (Bundestag) of the unified Germany in December of 1990, one new party got into the Bundestag: the Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS). This party is the successor party of the United Socialist Party of Germany (SED), the ruling communist party in East Germany. PDS is still represented in the Bundestag; it has representatives in all länder parliaments of the eastern German regions, and is the third strongest party. In some eastern German towns it is even the strongest party. In order to explain PDS’ excellent electoral results and its political clout, the author analyses the party’s ideological/programmatic goals as well as the social conflicts it articulates in the German party system. PDS represents the anti-western social milieu, which includes 20% of the population of eastern Germany. Although PDS has been trying to shed its communist legacy, its attitude towards the elements of the liberal/democratic regime has remained ambivalent since its members and voters demonstrate a significant antidemocratic potential.

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