Crisis within the Merz government: Labor Minister Bärbel Bass resigns and speaks of pressure from the CDU

Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government was shaken today by the news that Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, and co-chair of the SPD, Bärbel Bass, is leaving her post. Her departure has opened a wave of discussions about the state of the governing coalition in Berlin.

According to Deutsche Welle, Bass cited personal reasons as the main motive, related to the loss of her adopted daughter. However, she also added that she experiences increasingly frequent “personal attacks” from CDU figures, a factor that pushed her toward this decision.

The government aims to lower tensions

Foreign Minister Johann Vandeful tried to shout down concerns after the sudden resignation, declaring: “For the governing coalition, of course, nothing changes at all.”

He emphasized that the union between the Christian Democrats and Social Democrats has a four-year mandate and that Germany and Europe urgently need political stability. Vandeful did not spare praise for Bass, describing her as an extremely prominent figure, whose presence will be missed in the government.

Chancellor Merz also spoke with understanding about the minister’s decision, referring to the personal tragedy she has endured with the loss of her adopted daughter.

Merz acknowledged that during their work together political divergences had occurred, but stressed the situation that these were purely professional, with no personal dimension. According to him, in the recent period he had asked the leaders of the CDU to approach Bass with discretion, respect, and increased humanity.

Clash over pension and employment reforms

The main criticism of her from CDU leaders has come because of the slowing of processes on reforming the pension system and the labor market, as well as for draft laws that had been promised within the coalition.

Names such as MP Stefan Nake, at the head of the CDU-CSU working group in the Bundestag, have publicly presented the task of delivering “immediate draft laws,” holding her as primarily responsible for the prolonged expectations.

The focus of the criticisms has been especially her stance on the reform of working hours, which aims for more flexibility than the current eight-hour rule, as well as on the change known as “retirement at age 63.”

German media report that in early October, the conservative parliamentary group threatened to block the tax reform of Finance Minister and SPD leader Lars Klingbeil if the Labor Ministry did not quickly present draft laws on social security and the labor market.

The SPD and Klingbeil come out in her support

Lars Klingbeil, Minister of Finance and co-chair of the SPD, canceled a planned visit to India as a sign of solidarity after Bass’s departure. He described the treatment she received during the crisis as “inappropriate” and “offensive.” The Prime Minister of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Manuela Schwesig, went further in her judgments, labeling the behavior toward the former minister as “merciless,” even “inhumane.”