The former East German communist party -- renamed the Party of Democratic Socialism -- is back in government for the first time since the unification of Germany in 1990.

The Social Democratic Party in the eastern German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Mecklenburg Vorpommern has approved a coalition agreement with the former communists, following state elections at the end of September.

Before the elections the state was governed by a coalition between the Social Democrats and the conservative Christian Democrats.

The Social Democrat who will be formally elected as state premier next week, Harald Ringstorff, said the devlopment reflected political reality in eastern Germany.

But the Christian Democrats said it was a dark day for democracy.