German labour minister Bärbel Bas quits cabinet and SPD leadership after CDU allies attacked her during stepdaughter's death

From the Newshound archive · first published 12 October 2026.

Bärbel Bas, Germany's labour minister and co-leader of the Social Democrats, has resigned with immediate effect from both posts, saying she lacked 'the strength' to carry out her duties while grieving her stepdaughter's recent death. She explicitly blamed intensified public attacks from within Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU — her own coalition partner — for making her position untenable during the bereavement.

Alexander Schweitzer, former state premier of Rhineland-Palatinate, is set to replace Bas as labour minister.

SPD co-leader and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil cancelled a planned trip to India, calling the CDU's attacks on Bas while she mourned 'unacceptable' and 'indecent'.

The resignation deepens the turmoil gripping Merz's fragile coalition, already reeling from three bruising state election defeats last month and surging AfD support.