Christian von Stetten Demands Resignation of Labor Minister Bärbel Bas as Coalition Tensions Rise

Resignation demands from the Union business wing

Christian von Stetten, chairman of the Parliamentary Circle for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (PKM) within the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, called for the resignation of Federal Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Bärbel Bas. In comments published by Bild on 11 September 2026, von Stetten declared that the SPD co-leader is obstructing necessary economic reforms. The PKM represents 166 of the 208 CDU/CSU members in the Bundestag, making it the most influential grouping inside the parliamentary faction.

“The minister is no longer acceptable. For months she has been blocking the reforms that our country so urgently needs.”

Von Stetten argued that the concept of combining the labor ministry in the cabinet of Chancellor Friedrich Merz with the leadership of the SPD had failed. He claimed that Bas delays legislative drafts out of concern for her position as party co-chair.

Total CDU/CSU Bundestag MPs208

PKM Members166

Total CDU/CSU Bundestag MPs

208 MPs

PKM Members

166 MPs

Data from the article text

Budget friction and policy disagreements

The dispute centers on social welfare legislation and the federal budget for the upcoming year. Von Stetten criticized Bas for delaying the second part of the planned reform of the basic income support system. He pointed out that while CDU Minister Karin Prien faces reductions to parental allowances, the labor ministry has not yet implemented measures to stop basic income payouts to individuals wanted on criminal arrest warrants.

The labor ministry previously stated that constitutional reviews and technical evaluations are required before welfare payments can be halted for wanted individuals. In parallel, von Stetten rejected the draft federal budget submitted by Finance Minister and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil. He described the budget plan as unacceptable to the Union, asserting that Klingbeil relied on higher taxes and excessive borrowing rather than spending cuts.

SPD leadership rejects coalition attacks

SPD leaders responded with coordinated criticism of von Stetten and called for stability within the ruling coalition. Speaking at a campaign event in Celle, Lower Saxony, Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil defended Bas and warned against political division.

“What is the point of this? We are in damn difficult times. We must stick together in a government.”

Klingbeil noted that while a mathematical majority between the CDU/CSU and the AfD exists in the Bundestag, democratic parties in the political center must cooperate. SPD Secretary General Tim Klüssendorf also dismissed the resignation call.

“The accusations are little more than a helpless diversionary tactic and do not help at all with the enormous challenges facing our country and this coalition.”

Other SPD figures, including parliamentary group deputy leader Dagmar Schmidt and economic spokesperson Sebastian Roloff, urged CDU lawmakers to concentrate on industrial energy costs, orders, and labor shortages instead of cabinet personnel disputes.

Internal pressure on CDU leadership

The confrontation follows growing unrest within the CDU after the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, where the party recorded approximately 20% of the vote. District chairs in Saxony sent a joint letter to Chancellor Friedrich Merz and CDU Secretary General Franziska Hoppermann calling for an unsparing analysis of the result. The regional leaders wrote that the population has lost confidence in both the federal government and the Union.

Regional elections in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin take place one week later. Chancellor Merz previously faced internal pushback over the removal of deputy secretary general Christina Stumpp, while von Stetten had already expressed doubts in April 2026 about whether the grand coalition would survive a full four-year legislative term.