Overview
- The SPD's co-chair and federal labour minister Bärbel Bas resigned on Monday, citing the death of her stepdaughter and sustained public attacks that she said included criticism from the coalition partner.
- SPD leaders blamed the Union for personal attacks and moved quickly to name Alexander Schweitzer as the likely successor at the labour ministry.
- The CDU held a two-day presidium conference in Berlin and adopted a six-page declaration that prioritises household relief and includes a proposal to cut the electricity tax to the EU minimum to restore voter trust.
- The twin developments have heightened inter-party recrimination, increased uncertainty over the timetable for labour and pension reforms, and raised the chance that legislative deadlines will be pushed back.
- Coverage shows political fault lines: centre and left outlets stress the human and cultural questions raised by Bas's departure while centre-right outlets focus on the SPD's responsibility to deliver reforms and the CDU's push for policy fixes.