Bärbel Bas, who stepped down as head of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and Federal Minister of Labor three weeks ago, has spoken publicly for the first time about the reasons behind her departure. Her resignation triggered a significant government crisis in Berlin, which she attributed partly to uncollegial relations between the SPD and the Union party. In an interview with the ARD program "Konfrontation: Markus Feldenkirchen meets Bärbel Bas," Bas revealed that the death of her cancer-stricken stepdaughter at the end of September was a devastating blow.
Bas described a close bond with her stepdaughter over many years, noting that during the hospice care process, she realized her strength was fading. She admitted that finding the motivation to get up in the morning became difficult when questioning the purpose of continuing in such high-pressure roles. Bas explained that recovering from this situation requires time, which is unavailable in top political offices. Consequently, she decided she could not return immediately and lacked the mental clarity required for official duties.
On October 12, Bas made her decision public. While she has resigned from her leadership and ministerial positions, the 58-year-old remains a member of parliament representing the Duisburg I constituency. In her remarks, she criticized the harshness prevalent in the political sphere, describing a "culture of silence" where illness is rarely discussed because no one wishes to appear weak in such a tough business.
Reflecting on her resignation statement, Bas acknowledged that she might have phrased her criticism differently had she foreseen the scale of the coalition dispute it would ignite. She specifically addressed attacks from the CDU/CSU coalition partners during her difficult personal time. Although she informed Chancellor Friedrich Merz of her private situation and complained about the attacks from his party, Bas stated that a campaign against her and the SPD ensued. She noted that while Merz assured her he would handle the matter, his intervention found no resonance.
Bas also expressed disappointment regarding the lack of backing from within her own party, noting that criticism from SPD ranks had already emerged during the summer break. She revealed that she never discussed her resignation directly with Chancellor Merz; instead, he was informed by her co-party chairman Lars Klingbeil. Concluding her comments, Bas appealed to government partners to improve their conduct, warning that without better cooperation, nothing will be achieved.
Sources: Der Spiegel.