Bärbel Bas quits as SPD co-leader and labour minister; Schweitzer tipped to succeed
Bas cited grief over her stepdaughter's death and attacks, including from the conservatives. Merz said her decision deserved respect. Former state premier Alexander Schweitzer is tipped to take over the ministry.
Archive image · Photo: Raimond Spekking / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
German Labour Minister Bärbel Bas of the Social Democrats (SPD) resigned from both her posts on Monday, stepping down as SPD co-leader with immediate effect and asking Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) to dismiss her from the cabinet. "After the death of my stepdaughter, I realised that I need time to process my grief," she wrote. She also pointed to public attacks on her, "unfortunately also from the ranks of the coalition partner." She will keep her parliamentary seat for Duisburg. The conservatives had accused her of delaying reforms, including on pensions.
Merz wrote on X that the two had worked together in a spirit of trust, adding: "Her decision deserves respect." Vice Chancellor and SPD co-leader Lars Klingbeil called the attacks on Bas during her mourning "indecent" and cancelled a trip to India. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania premier Manuela Schwesig (SPD) described the CDU's attacks as "inhumane and reckless." Rhineland-Palatinate premier Gordon Schnieder (CDU) rejected the criticism of the conservatives.
Alexander Schweitzer is set to succeed Bas as labour minister, according to several media reports. The 53-year-old served as premier of Rhineland-Palatinate until May and is a deputy federal SPD leader. It is not yet clear who will take over the party leadership.