German SPD leader resigns – another setback for Merz

 

TT 

Published October 12, 2026, 9:29 PM

 

Bärbel Bas of the German Social Democrats (SPD) has stepped down from her role as co-leader of the party. File photo from 2023. Photo: Christophe Ena/AP/TT

One of the leaders of the German Social Democrats (SPD) has stepped down from her post with immediate effect. The news marks another setback for Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

On Monday, Bärbel Bas announced her resignation as SPD party leader and as Minister of Labour and Social Affairs.

The reason is the recent death of her stepdaughter and her need to process her grief—but also the fact that she faced internal criticism regarding her ministerial work from within the coalition government with the Christian Democratic CDU, despite her private situation being known, reports Tagesschau.
The SPD has had a joint leadership since 2019, and the party's other leader, Lars Klingbeil, has described the attacks against her as "indecent."

German media note that the internal dispute also signals new problems for Friedrich Merz. Following major defeats in three state elections this autumn, Merz is under pressure, and friction between the SPD and the CDU is believed to be fueling mistrust in his leadership.