Bärbel Bas
Photo: Fotografin des Bildes ist Angelika Kohlmeier, uneingeschränktes Nutzungsrecht liegt dem Büro Bärbel Bas vor, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons, cropped)
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- yesterday
Hubertus Heil does not rule out a bid for SPD leadership at January congress
Former labour minister Hubertus Heil said on Sunday, 18 October, that he cannot rule out running for the SPD chair at a special party congress in January, after co-chair Bärbel Bas unexpectedly announced her resignation.
- 5d ago
SPD to elect entire leadership at Bremen congress on 16 and 17 January after Bas quits
Bärbel Bas has stepped down as SPD co-chair and labour minister, and the party plans to elect its entire leadership at a congress in Bremen in mid-January.
- 5d ago
Merz rejects claim Ukraine aid cuts into German social spending as AfD attacks
Merz told the Bundestag that no euro for Ukraine is missing from German social or education budgets, while AfD leaders accused him of failing on reforms.
- Oct 13
Steinmeier appoints Alexander Schweitzer labour minister after Bärbel Bas resigns
Frank-Walter Steinmeier handed Alexander Schweitzer his appointment certificate on Tuesday, 13 October, a day after Bärbel Bas stepped down as minister and SPD chair. Chancellor Friedrich Merz wants pension and labour market bills in cabinet quickly, and the succession at the top of the SPD remains open.
- Oct 7
Merz insists on German welfare reform timetable as coalition talks resume in Berlin
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz opened coalition talks on Wednesday to defend a package of pension, healthcare, and tax reforms following state election losses for both governing parties.
- Oct 3
AfD reaches 30 percent as Union falls to 18 percent in German Insa poll
An Insa survey gives Alternative for Germany a 12-point lead over CDU/CSU, which dropped to 18 percent as 79 percent of voters expressed dissatisfaction with Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
- Oct 2
Steinmeier intervenes in German coalition standoff over healthcare, pensions, and taxes
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier held crisis calls with Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil and Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt following disputes over social reforms and tax policy.
- Oct 1
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz falls to 10% approval in ARD poll
A survey conducted by Infratest dimap for broadcaster ARD shows only 10% of German voters approve of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the lowest rating for any chancellor since polling began in 1997, as the AfD leads federal voting intentions at 27%.
- Sep 23
Germany adopts 10-point plan to cut welfare for fugitives and curb fraud
The federal cabinet has approved measures to block basic income payments to individuals evading arrest warrants and dismantle exploitative housing rings across the country.
- Sep 17
Germany unveils ten-point plan to combat organized welfare fraud and housing exploitation
Federal ministers Bärbel Bas and Alexander Dobrindt have presented a ten-point strategy to crack down on organized benefit fraud rings, slum housing, and sham employment across Germany.
- Sep 12
Bärbel Bas defends German pension reform in Bundestag budget debate
Labor Minister Bärbel Bas confirmed plans to overhaul Germany's statutory pension system, promising a five-year transition period for workers facing the phaseout of unreduced early retirement at 63.
- Aug 16
Klingbeil faces muted reception at SPD Pfalztreffen amid growing internal dissent over coalition course
Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil received a restrained welcome at the SPD's Pfalztreffen in Haßloch, where he defended the black-red coalition's course against mounting internal criticism over weak polling and contentious pension reforms.
- Jul 31
Seven German states rebel against coalition plan to abolish 'Rente mit 63' pension
Germany's black-red coalition faces mounting resistance from eight states over its plan to abolish the deduction-free pension after 45 contribution years, with SPD and CDU politicians alike demanding exemptions, transition rules and hardship provisions.
- Jul 22
German government finalises 'Frühstartrente' plan: €10 monthly state contribution to child pension accounts from age six
The German government has finalised a draft law to give every child a state-subsidised retirement account, paying €10 per month from age six to 18, starting with those born in 2020.
- Jul 11
Markus Söder says Minijobs 'remain' in clash with German pension reform blueprint
CSU leader Markus Söder has broken with a government pension commission's call to abolish low-paid 'Minijobs', promising they will endure and warning of damage to hospitality, retail and farming.
- Jun 30
Germany tightens welfare rules: new job seeker basic income scheme takes effect July 1
The government renames the Bürgergeld scheme to Grundsicherung für Arbeitssuchende and introduces stricter penalties for recipients who refuse to work, Labor Minister Bärbel Bas confirmed.
- Jun 29
JU chief Winkel attacks Söder over pension reform and demands €20bn tax overhaul
Junge Union leader Johannes Winkel defends the pension commission's proposals and calls for a tax reform exceeding €20 billion, while taking a swipe at CSU chief Markus Söder.
- Jun 27
CDU's Reddig urges swift end to 'pension at 63' as commission calls for deep reforms
Pascal Reddig, a CDU lawmaker and member of the government's pension commission, called for the immediate abolition of Germany's early retirement scheme after the panel recommended deep reforms. Chancellor Merz and Social Minister Bas vowed speedy implementation.
- Jun 25
New legal report brands AfD unconstitutional, reigniting German party ban debate
A 13-month expert review by the Society for Freedom Rights concludes the Alternative for Germany violates the democratic principle and human dignity, prompting senior SPD and Green politicians to demand a constitutional ban procedure.
- Jun 22
German pension commission proposes raising retirement age and ending 'Rente mit 63'
A government-appointed commission has recommended raising the retirement age in line with life expectancy and scrapping early retirement without deductions after 45 years of contributions, as part of a package of over 30 proposals to be handed to Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday.
