Germany: Friedrich Merz's coalition weakened after the departure of the Minister of Labor

The coalition of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz found itself further weakened on Monday by the sudden resignation of his Minister of Labor and co-leader of the Social Democratic Party, Bärbel Bas, who said he was the victim of attacks from the conservative ranks in the government.

This surprise announcement comes in a context of tensions between the two allies, who are struggling to agree on reforms against a backdrop of record unpopularity of the chancellor and sky-high polls for the far-right opposition. Ms. Bas, 58, explained on social networks her departure from the head of the SPD and the government by the death of her daughter-in-law, a personal ordeal, but she immediately denounced the “public attacks” against her, including “from the coalition partner”.

This is a new illustration of the tensions within the coalition bringing together the center-right and center-left for a year and a half and which are undermining government action. Pressure had increased in recent weeks on the minister, with officials from the CDU/CSU, Mr. Merz's conservative bloc, accusing her of slowing down the reforms deemed necessary in the areas of social and pensions.

Indecent situation

With a serious face in front of the press, SPD co-president Lars Klingbeil, also Minister of Finance and vice-chancellor, said he was “very sad” and criticized the conservatives, without naming them. The leader of the SPD in Bavaria, Sebastian Roloff, even denounced attacks “coming from the CDU leadership” to the daily Handelsblatt. Deploring the “indecent” situation that his colleague has just suffered, Mr. Klingbeil called for resistance to “the destructive game of the extreme right” which wants traditional political forces to “tear each other apart”.

Reacting to the departure of his minister in front of the press after a meeting of his party executives, Friedrich Merz admitted “differences, disagreements on the merits” with Ms. Bas, but rejected any attack “on a personal level”, ensuring that he had told her to “take the time” she needed for her mourning. “The CDU has always expressed its compassion,” insisted the chancellor.

This new hiccup comes at a time when Mr. Merz's popularity is at an all-time low, particularly due to his inability to reach compromises within the government on reforms intended to revive the economy and control social spending. He paid for it electorally in September, with the far-right AfD party winning two regional elections in the east of the country.

Multiple seizures

The coalition remains divided on a multitude of issues, starting with the question of increasing the retirement age. Ms. Bas was in charge of drafting a compromise bill on the subject, and was accused by her right-wing partners of holding back. A file which his successor designated on Monday, Alexander Schweitzer, 53, one of the vice-presidents of the SPD, will inherit.

Friedrich Merz put pressure on the Social Democrats: “We have fallen behind on certain legislative processes. We must catch up,” he said, pointing to the “crisis of confidence” in the two parties in government. Reacting to developments following the electoral defeats by the far right, he reaffirmed that the CDU “will not vote anywhere in Germany for extremists”. A reference to the election by secret ballot of an AfD candidate at the head of the Saxony-Anhalt parliament, obtained with 4 votes whose origin remains unknown. Speculation has been rife about defectors from the CDU, which the SPD views very negatively.

Mr. Merz also mentioned another source of tensions. In the city-state of Berlin, the radical left party Die Linke, which won elections there on September 20, began negotiations on Thursday with environmentalists and social democrats to form a majority, despite accusations of anti-Semitism targeting it. “What deeply worries us is the widespread anti-Semitism in this party,” repeated the chancellor, warning the SPD that an agreement with Die Linke would constitute “an additional burden” for the government coalition.