German labour minister to quit after stepdaughter's death

BERLIN, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Baerbel Bas, ‌Germany's labour ​minister and ​co-head of the centre-left SPD, resigned from both posts on Monday, citing the death of her stepdaughter and mounting political attacks against ‌her, dealing a blow to Chancellor Friedrich Merz's coalition government.

"After my ⁠stepdaughter's death, I realised that I need time to come to terms with my grief," Bas ‌said in a statement.

Bas, whose ‌ministry oversees large parts of Germany's welfare system, also said she had faced increasing "public attacks", including from members of the CDU/CSU conservative bloc, the SPD's ​coalition partners.

Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, the SPD's other co-leader, said in a statement: "The attacks against her during the past days of her ⁠mourning were inappropriate. That is unacceptable."

Klingbeil's finance ministry said he would cancel a planned trip to India ​that had been scheduled to begin later on Monday.

Bas' departure adds to pressure on the coalition government led by Merz, which ​has been struggling in opinion polls and was ‌shaken by regional election results last month that saw major gains for both the far right and far left.

The coalition ⁠partners have been working on changes to the nation's pay-as-you-go retirement system to address demographic challenges, a key element of a broader economic and social reform programme.

Bas had come under ⁠attack from lower ranks of the conservative party bloc over delays to the pension overhaul, ​which was intended to follow recommendations made by an expert commission.

Merz struck a conciliatory tone on X on Monday, saying Bas' decision deserved respect and thanking her for her commitment ‌and their close cooperation.

The SPD said that Alexander Schweitzer, the former state premier of Rhineland-Palatinate and one of the party's ‌deputy leaders, would take over as labour minister.

It remained unclear who would succeed Bas as ⁠the SPD's co-leader. Bas said she ‌would retain her seat in ​parliament.

(Reporting by Andreas Rinke, additional reporting by Maria Martinez, writing by Thomas Seythal and Ludwig Burger, editing by Andrew Heavens and ‌Ros Russell)

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