Politics · Germany · 8 hrs ago
German labor minister Bärbel Bas resigns, adding strain to coalition
Bärbel Bas has resigned as Germany’s labor minister and co-leader of the center-left SPD party.
The SPD is the junior partner in Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s governing coalition, which also includes his conservative CDU.
Bas cited the death of her daughter-in-law and said she needed time to grieve, while also criticizing attacks from coalition partners.
The government is already under pressure from a sluggish economy and low poll ratings.
Bas’s departure could make pension reform harder, one of the coalition’s main priorities.
Her ministry is preparing a draft bill after a government commission recommended that people work longer as the population ages.
Bas plans to keep her seat in parliament representing Duisburg, but the next steps for filling her government roles were not specified.
Bärbel Bas resigned as Germany’s labor minister and co-leader of the Social Democratic Party on Monday, October 12.
She cited personal reasons, including the death of her daughter-in-law, and criticized attacks from coalition partners.
The departure adds strain to Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s coalition and could complicate pension reform.
Bas plans to keep her seat as a member of parliament for Duisburg.
- Who
- Bärbel Bas, Germany’s labor minister and co-leader of the Social Democratic Party.
- What
- She resigned from both posts, citing personal reasons and criticizing attacks from coalition partners.
- When
- Monday, October 12. The article was published in 2026.
- Where
- Germany.
- Why
- Bas cited the death of her daughter-in-law and said attacks against her had intensified.
Bärbel Bas
CDU politicians
Public attacks
Bärbel Bas
Bas said attacks from coalition partners had continued to intensify during a difficult personal time.
CDU politicians
CDU politicians criticized Bas over what they saw as delays to working-time changes and pension reform.
I must unfortunately note that the public attacks against me – regrettably including those from within the ranks of our coalition partner – have continued to intensify during this difficult time for me personally
You can only expect criticism in that case
As a father and a grandfather, I can only imagine how heavily this loss weighs. I wish her and her family a lot of strength.
A government commission recommended that people work longer to address the effects of an aging population.
Bas’s ministry was preparing a draft bill on pension reform.
Bas resigned as labor minister and SPD co-leader.
- Resignation date
- Monday, October 12, 2026
- Posts relinquished
- Labor minister and SPD co-leader
- Parliamentary seat
- Duisburg
- Pension reform
- One of the coalition’s main priorities
- Recommendation
- A government commission called for people to work longer
Sources
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