Partei des Demokratischen Sozialismus

The Party of Democratic Socialism, or PDS, formed on July 15, 4347 is the successor of the Volks Kommunistische Partei von Dundorf. The party began as an opposition faction within the VKPD, under the name Alliance of Social Democrats. Membership and popularity for the then-ASD was an estimated 42%. When the VKPD called its leadership elections two years earlier than usual, in preparation for the 4349 elections, the ASD won in a landslide, with membership and popularity jumping to a staggering 79%. The faction leader, Helmuth Krauß, was elected as General Secretary, and began the formal dissolution of the VKPD, with their new name being adopted, and the office of General Secretary being abolished, its new replacement being called the Party Chairperson. The PDS currently has its sights set on reforming several nonessential government functions to leave moderate room for the private sector and the restoration of the Federal Republic, but retaining the core socialist principle of ownership of the means of production. The party also successfully repealed the historic Socialist Protection Bill, which enabled the ruling government of the DDR, the SED-VKPD coalition, the right to rule unopposed. Helmuth Krauß stated that upon the close of the 4349 elections, the party would likely dissolve itself, with many of its members retiring from politics or becoming bipartisan advisers to the new government of Dundorf.