Josef Franz Ceminau (January 7, 1902 - December 32, 1994), alternatively spelt Joseph Cheminau, was a Prussian Social Democratic political leader who served as the Chancellor of Prussia from 1970-1977. The only Chancellor of Jewish faith, Cheminau led the country during a period of economic and social stagnation, particularly underlined by tensions between the country's German majority and Polish minority. Cheminau, while popular, eventually was forced into a divisive leadership election that relieved him of his post after his Cabinet abruptly resigned in the wake of the 1977 Kattowitz Riots. Defeated by Konrad Beck, Cheminau's defeat marked the end of a period of dominance by social conservatives within the SDP and gave way to the considerably more left-leaning Beck government that would dominate Prussia until 1991. Still, the SDP under Cheminau won the 1971 and 1976 elections with the greatest margins in Prussian electoral history and the 1971-76 government is the only Prussian government to rule with an absolute supermajority.
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