Left party (Die Linke) chairwoman Katja Kipping hit out at right-wing President Joachim Gauck Sunday for his prejudicial comments against Left candidate Bodo Ramelow leading a possible three-party coalition in Thuringia.

"People who experienced East Germany and are of my age have to make quite an effort to accept this," said Mr Gauck.

He wondered whether the party, with its roots in the Socialist Unity Party of the German Democratic Republic, had moved far enough from repressive ideas to be trusted fully.

"There are parts of this party where I, like many others, have problems developing this trust," he declared.

Ms Kipping criticised Mr Gauck's comments, saying that they were "not right for a president.

"I reject in every way his doubts about the democratic attitude of our members and voters," she said.

Mr Ramelow's installation as governor depends on membership ballots of prospective centre-left allies and a vote in the state legislature, where his coalition would have a one-seat majority.