Bärbel Bas stops her work as a minister. She also leaves the party top of the SPD. The reason is a sad death in her family. Her step-daughter dies. Bas wants time for her grief now.
The politician criticizes the partner party Union. She says: There were bad attacks against me. These attacks happen during my grief. SPD leader Lars Klingbeil calls this bad behavior. He says: Such words poison politics.
Alexander Schweitzer takes the job in the ministry now. He was a leader in his state before. Important tasks wait for him. He must work on a change for the pension. The Koalition fights often about this topic.
At the new year the SPD chooses a new top. Many people ask: Who is the new partner of Lars Klingbeil? Manuela Schwesig is a strong choice. She leads a state in the north. She does not decide now.
The government of leader Friedrich Merz has many problems. Experts see a deep distrust between the partners. The party CDU talks about its own crisis. The step of Bas makes the situation very hard.
