 In February 1919, David was elected president of the new National Assembly, but as part of a deal establishing the first democratically elected government, the Scheidemann cabinet.He relinquished that post in favour of Constantin Fehrenbach (Zentrum) and became Minister without Portfolio under the new "Ministerpräsident", Philipp Scheidemann (SPD).After Scheidemann's cabinet resigned in June 1919 in protest over the stipulations of the Treaty of Versailles, a new government was formed by Gustav Bauer (SPD) and David became "Reichsminister des Innern" (Minister of the Interior), a position he held from 21 June to 4 October 1919.