Page "Horst Sindermann" Paragraph 7

His rise was cut short in October 1976, as party leader Erich Honecker deemed him too liberal on economics.

Willi Stoph resumed his former post as head of government, while Sindermann was demoted to the posts of President of the Volkskammer and deputy chairman of the State Council Staatsrat.

Formally a member of the country's collective head of state and, as president of parliament, holder of the third-highest office, he was left with little political influence.