German communist politician, in power in East Germany 197389, elected chair of the council of state (head of state) in 1976. He governed in an outwardly austere and efficient manner and, while favouring EastWest détente, was a loyal ally of the USSR. In 1989, following a wave of pro-democracy demonstrations, he was replaced as leader of the Socialist Unity Party (SED) and head of state by Egon
Krenz, and expelled from the Communist Party. He died in exile in Chile.
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