(2 of 2)
De Maiziere, a lawyer, says that in his own legal work he was forced to have some contact with the Stasi while defending dissidents. The Stasi stain could spread to other parties, including the SPD. There are charges that as many as 40 of the 400 new deputies may have been in the service of the secret police. If any of these men are forced to resign as a result of their past activities, warns Manfred Stolpe, a top East German churchman, "this would be a terrible blow for our young democracy."
Educated at the Huguenots' Gray Cloister High School in Berlin, where he studied the viola, De Maiziere had to abandon his musical career when he developed a neural impairment in his left arm. He then took up legal studies and eventually became known for his defense of conscientious objectors and other dissidents. Slight of build and speaking with a soft lisp, De Maiziere, 50, is a religious man who has never demonstrated an appetite for public life. But he answered the call when he was asked last fall to cleanse the CDU of the stigma it bore from decades of cooperation with the Communists.
The most urgent task facing the new government will be to end the uncertainty over currency union, which is delaying investment in East Germany. Last week several West German politicians hinted that the deutsche mark will become the currency of both Germanys by June 30. At that time, East Germans will be able to exchange a maximum of 2,000 marks ($1,170) in cash and 3,000 marks ($1,755) in savings at the rate of 1 to 1; the current official rate is 4.2 to 1.
Even currency union, however, will not end East Germany's headaches. There is an evident shortage of competent non-Communists. Admits CDU spokesman Helmut Luck: "We are desperately looking for suitable people to fill top administrative posts." But it will be no easy task persuading people to take jobs in a government that is likely to disappear in a year or two.
CHART: NOT AVAILABLE
CREDIT: TIME Chart by Steve Hart
CAPTION: HOW THE PARTIES ARE SEATED