Politics · Germany · 5 hrs ago
German columnist accuses SPD of risking its coalition with Merz
A Bild political commentary says the SPD’s response to criticism of Bärbel Bas is putting the coalition at risk.
Bas is an SPD politician whose work and pension plans have drawn criticism.
The commentary notes that SPD leaders Manuela Schwesig and Alexander Schweitzer had also criticised Bas’s pension plans.
It argues that some SPD members are now treating criticism of Bas as personal attacks and directing their anger at Merz’s CDU.
The writer says this could destroy trust between the SPD and the Union, the two parties in the coalition.
The commentary speculates that the SPD may want to make Merz and the Union the moral scapegoats before leaving government.
It does not establish that the SPD plans to leave or bring down Merz.
A Bild political columnist accused the SPD of using criticism of Labour Minister Bärbel Bas to undermine Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the governing coalition.
The columnist said SPD leaders had turned professional criticism of Bas into personal attacks.
The article said SPD figures Manuela Schwesig and Alexander Schweitzer had previously criticised Bas’s pension plans.
It argued the SPD wanted to make Merz and the CDU/CSU the moral scapegoats and destroy trust between the coalition partners.
The article suggested the party might then leave the government.
- Who
- A Bild political columnist accused the SPD of undermining Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the coalition.
- What
- The columnist said the SPD was turning criticism of Bärbel Bas into personal attacks and seeking to damage the coalition.
- When
- Bild published the commentary on 13 October 2026.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- The columnist alleged the SPD wanted to make Merz and the Union the moral scapegoats and destroy trust between the coalition partners.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
SPD figures Manuela Schwesig and Alexander Schweitzer had repeatedly criticised Bas’s pension plans, according to the article.
Bild published the columnist’s commentary accusing the SPD of endangering the coalition.
- Publication date
- 13 October 2026
- Chancellor
- Friedrich Merz
- Minister criticised
- Bärbel Bas
- SPD figures cited
- Manuela Schwesig and Alexander Schweitzer
- Issue Bas’s plans concerned
- Pensions
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What people are saying
The SPD wants to make Merz and the Union the moral scapegoat.
It wants to destroy the last trust between the conservatives and the Social Democrats.
It would be a treacherous ousting of the chancellor.