Regierung: Bas gibt Ämter ab - CDU verwundert über Vorwürfe

CDU party members are taken aback by claims against Bärbel Bas, the former SPD minister and party leader, who resigned as a result of accusations from the Union party. The CDU is currently in the midst of its own crisis with a coalition partner in turmoil. Lars Klingbeil, the remaining co-partner of the SPD, announced that a federal party meeting at the end of the year would choose a new leadership team for the SPD.

Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) hopes that open legislative proposals from the Arbeitsministerium (Labor Ministry) can be quickly adopted by the cabinet. Alexander Schweitzer, the outgoing incumbent, is expected to take over as the new leader of the Arbeitsministerium, a decision to be proposed to the Federal President. Schweitzer, a former SPD minister-president from Rhineland-Palatinate, is a known pragmatist but it remains to be seen whether he will be able to implement reforms as easily as Bas.

The SPD plans to hold a new leadership selection in December or January. Klingbeil believes this is important for "clarity about the personnel roster and the SPD's programmatic course." Klingbeil has not indicated whether he will return or not, but he wants to ensure a best possible future team at the top. Bas' resignation, which surprised even some of her political circle, comes in a multi-day crisis for the CDU.

She cited a personal tragedy - the death of her stepdaughter - and the "public attacks on me, unfortunately also from the ranks of the coalition partner." She stated that she cannot currently muster the strength to continue her government and party work. In her resignation statement, shared also on Instagram, Bas blamed the loss of her stepdaughter for her decision, noting that she needed time to grieve.

She did not specify the public accusations against the Union. Union politicians last harshly criticized Bas for not submitting legislative proposals quickly enough for planned reforms, such as those in the pension system or for a more flexible labor market. They accused her of delaying and blocking reforms. SPD politicians speak of inhumane attacks.

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's Minister-President Manuela Schwesig, one of the most powerful and outspoken SPD politicians, called the CDU's attacks "inhumane and callous." CDU Chief Lars Klingbeil called the attacks "unpleasant," while Generalsekretär Tim Klüssendorf emphasized that "we urgently need to return to a more humane interaction with one another, both as a society and within politics."

The exact nature of the attacks is not specified. The resignation has caused new tensions in the red-green coalition. Merz expresses sympathy and thanks Bas, writing, "As a father and grandfather, I can only imagine how heavy this loss must be." However, the CDU leadership has not yet commented on the accusations against their party.