German Labor Minister Bärbel Bas Resigns Amid Coalition Strife and Personal Grief
Bärbel Bas, Germany’s labor minister and SPD co-chair, resigned on Monday, citing the death of her stepdaughter and intensified public attacks from her conservative coalition partner, the CDU. Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed condolences, while Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil condemned the criticism as 'indecent.' Alexander Schweitzer is set to replace Bas as labor minister, but the SPD has not yet named a new party co-chair. The resignation deepens instability in Merz’s government, which faces low approval ratings and a rising far-right opposition.