‘Populism’ used to meet crisis

Press, 21 October 1989, Page 12

‘Populism’ used to meet crisis

NZPA-Reuter

East Berlin

East Germany's new leader Egon Krenz is seeking to end his country’s worst crisis in 36 years by opening up the official media, listening to workers’ complaints and talking with the powerful Protestant Church.

Since he replaced the 77-year-old hardliner, Erich Honecker, as Com-

munist Party chief on Wednesday, Mr Krenz, aged 52, has projected a sharp public image with elements of the populism of the Soviet President, Mikhail Gorbachev. But as a former security police chief who applauded China’s bloody crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators this year, Krenz has his work cut out to convince his coun-

trymen that Soviet-style change is imminent in their rigidly ruled ; State. / Acting fast to assert his authority * and distance himself from Mr Honecker’s grey, conservative style, Mr Krenz spent Thursday encouraging workers at an East Berlin machine tool plant to tell him of their grievances without fear of reprisal.