>>17769073Although both the NÖSPL and the ÖSS were successful in economic terms, they also led to an appreciation of decentralised units, such as management, at the expense of the central administration and by economists at the expense of political functionaries. This led to increasing criticism within the SED, since the party's absolute claim to power seemed to be endangered. In particular, the reforms of the Soviet Union under Leonid Ilylich Brezhnev were viewed critically, although the new system was based on ideas from the New Economic Policy
Economic policy was a decisive reason why Erich Honecker, with the support of the Soviet Union, was able to replace Ulbricht as the first man in the state in 1971. With VIII. The SED party congress was then adopted a new economic policy course, which reversed the reforms. The new guideline was the unity of economic and social policy declared by Honecker. "The VIII. Party congress held a course at the end of which was the end. The party congress was the beginning of this end, which – in the words of André Müller sn. – turning before the turnaround.”