In late 1988, Diepgen called a state election on relatively short notice, hoping to capitalize on his personal popularity and to pre-empt an assault on the Christian Democrats over local problems such as a housing shortage and unpopular national policies, including proposed changes in the health service. In January 1989, his center-right government suffered severe losses in a state election that saw an unexpectedly strong showing by a far-right party, which campaigned on an anti-foreigner platform, and a win of the Social Democrats under Walter Momper. Diepgen subsequently resigned from his office and became the leader of the opposition.