 Between October and December, local groups of the SDP were formed in different towns.From 7 December 1989, two representatives of the party participated in the "Round Table" talks between Prime Minister Hans Modrow, who had become the de facto leader of East Germany after the SED surrendered its monopoly of power a week earlier, and various opposition groups.The talks resulted in representatives of the opposition groups joining Modrow's cabinet as ministers without portfolio until free elections to the People's Chamber could be held.