The dispute between Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD) and the federal CDU over the resignation of SPD leader Bärbel Bas is entering the next round. Schwesig sticks to her criticism of the CDU and also Chancellor Friedrich Merz personally.
On Monday she had already accused the Union of “inhumane” behavior towards Bas, who had withdrawn from her positions as labor minister and party leader after the death of her stepdaughter.
Now, at the dpa's request, Schwesig's spokeswoman Lilly Blaudszun says for the first time which statements the Prime Minister was referring to. The media shows "that Mr. Merz complained to journalists that Bärbel Bas was hardly present and did not present anything, even though he was aware of her plight," she explained. Bas was also described as “miscast”, “unacceptable” and “blocker”. “All of these are personal denigrations that don’t work at all.”
Blaudszun commented on the criticism from the CDU about the severity of Schwesig's statement with the words: "The CDU should deal with its misconduct in a self-critical manner instead of always looking for blame on others and on Ms. Schwesig."
The “Süddeutsche Zeitung” had already reported on Monday that there was discontent in the SPD over statements made by Merz in background discussions with journalists.
The podcast “Machtwechsel” by Dagmar Rosenfeld and WELT columnist Robin Alexander also reported on a specific meeting. Journalists from German media from Brussels were invited. There, Merz is said to have complained that Bas was not in political Berlin and that the draft laws were therefore not making progress, it said, citing his own sources.
Bas has already been criticized before
When asked about this at the federal press conference, government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said: “I will not be able to make any official statements in response to anonymous reports and colpostions.” For background discussions with journalists in Berlin, the agreement applies that the content will not be reported.
Blaudszun did not say who was supposed to have described Bas from the Union as “miscast”, “unacceptable” and “blocker”. On September 11th, the CDU politician Christian von Stetten accused Bas in the “Bild” of having been blocking reforms for months. At this point in time, word of the minister's private situation had apparently not yet gotten around in the Union. Von Stetten had previously described Bas as the “wrong cast”. But that was already in December 2025.
Merz has also already rejected the allegations. In the past three weeks, which were particularly difficult for Bas, he had “demanded every personal, including Christian, consideration” from his own party, he said on Monday at a press conference after discussions with the CDU party leadership. He could not determine that the Union had violated it. According to participants, in the parliamentary group on Tuesday he spoke of “unfair allegations” made by individuals in the SPD.
Schwesig got 35.5 percent in the state elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania on September 20th - significantly more than the federal SPD's current poll numbers. This means she can probably continue to govern in Schwerin as head of a red-red-green coalition. She is also considered a possible successor to Bas as SPD leader.
