Zürcher Nachrichten - Minister's resignation rocks German coalition

The resignation of Baerbel Bas of the centre-left SPD comes amid tensions within the government as the coalition struggles to agree welfare reforms, Merz's poll ratings languish and the far-right AfD's popularity soars.

Bas, who was labour minister and SPD co-leader, cited personal reasons for her resignation, saying she needed time to grieve following the death of her daughter-in-law.

But she also took aim at Merz's conservative CDU.

"I must unfortunately note that the public attacks against me -- regrettably including those from within the ranks of our coalition partner -- have continued to intensify during this difficult time for me personally," she said.

Lars Klingbeil, vice chancellor and SPD co-leader, said Bas had been subject to "outrageous" attacks.

"It is particularly women in prominent leadership positions who are increasingly experiencing this," he said.

He also warned that increasing tensions between mainstream parties played into the hands of the far right, who "want democratic forces to tear each other apart".

The government has faced mounting criticism as is struggles to get to grips with the country's problems, particularly the economy's long-running stagnation.

The AfD, which is topping opinion polls, last month soundly beat the CDU in two state elections, including in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where Merz's party scored its worst-ever result.

- 'Refrain from criticism' -

CDU politicians had accused Bas of holding up planned changes to working time regulations and the pension system.

"You can only expect criticism in that case," the CDU leader of Rhineland-Palatinate state, Gordon Schnieder, told Welt TV on Monday, after Bas quit.

But a government spokesman told reporters at a regular press conference that Merz was urging all "parties to refrain from unfounded criticism and to focus on their work".

Bas's departure risks complicating pension reform, one of the coalition's main priorities. Her ministry had prepared a draft bill after a government commission recommended people work longer to cope with the fact that the population is ageing.

Bas is giving up her posts as both a minister and co-leader of the SPD.

Klingbeil said he had proposed Alexander Schweitzer, one of the SPD's vice chairs, to take over from Bas as labour minister.

Meanwhile, Klingbeil said the SPD's full party leadership team -- himself included -- should face new internal elections at a party gathering sometime in December or January.

Klingbeil said that, in his view, the "most important proposition" is "ensuring that the government immediately regains the ability to act and achieves stability regarding key issues like labour market and pension policy".

Bas intends to retain her seat as an MP for Duisburg, a city at the heart of the former Ruhr mining region in western Germany.

Merz said on X he respected Bas's decision, adding: "I thank her for her commitment.

"As a father and a grandfather, I can only imagine how heavily this loss weighs. I wish her and her family a lot of strength."

N.Zaugg--NZN