 Its most prominent politician was the lawyer Peter-Michael Diestel, who joined the last East German cabinet (Council of Ministers) under Lothar de Maizière as minister of the interior and deputy prime minister.The DSU also held the ministry of economic cooperation, led by Hans-Wilhelm Ebeling.However, both Diestel and Ebeling left the party in June and July 1990, respectively, Diestel joined the CDU a month later.