On 18 October, the main leaders of the SED decided that their chairman, Erich Honecker had to resign. Egon Krenz became the new leader of the SED ("Generalsekretär des Zentralkomitees der SED", "General Secretary of the Central Comitee of the SED") and head of state ("Staatsratsvorsitzender", "Chairman of the State Council"). He said that he wanted to start a "Wende", but the demonstrants still wanted the SED to give up all power.