Baerbel Bas resigns from the German government and the leadership of the Social Democratic Party

Baerbel Bas, Germany’s Labor Minister and co-leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), announced Monday that she is resigning from both positions following the death of her stepdaughter and amid intensifying public attacks against her.

In a statement, Bas said she needs time to process her grief. She also referred to criticism coming, among others, from the SPD’s conservative coalition partners in the government led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The CDU/CSU bloc accused her of delaying and obstructing the government’s planned reforms, including changes to the pension system. Bas’s portfolio includes important components of Germany’s social protection system.

Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, who leads the SPD together with Bas, condemned the attacks against her during her period of mourning, calling them “inappropriate” and “unacceptable.”

It is not yet clear who will succeed her as Labor Minister and in the SPD leadership. Bas, 58, said she will retain her parliamentary mandate.