SPD: Labor Minister and SPD leader Bas resigns – Alexander Schweitzer becomes the new minister

Berlin, Düsseldorf. The SPD co-chair and Labor Minister Bärbel Bas announced her resignation on Monday. After her stepdaughter's death, she needed time to grieve, she said in a statement on social media and a letter to the party. “I would like to take enough of these,” wrote Bas.

She criticized attacks against her from within the Union's ranks, which had put additional strain on her during a difficult time for her. “In addition, I unfortunately have to state that the public attacks on me, unfortunately also from the ranks of the coalition partner, were further intensified during this difficult time for me personally.” The Handelsblatt also received sharp criticism of the SPD politician's absence from CDU circles, even though her family situation in Berlin was known.

Bas' resignation comes at a time when important reforms are pending in the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. In the coming weeks, the pension reform will be a sensitive issue that has repeatedly led to arguments in the black-red coalition. This makes it all the more important for the SPD to make the switch to Schweitzer as quickly as possible.