Frei rejects accusations of mistreatment of Bärbel Bas

CDU/CSU parliamentary group leader Thorsten Frei rejected accusations that his bloc had mistreated Bärbel Bas following her resignation as Germany's labour minister. He spoke to Deutschlandfunk on October 14.

Frei said he knew of no remarks from the bloc over the preceding three or four weeks that could be considered hurtful. He argued that the Social Democrats' accusations misrepresented events.

Bas announced on October 12 that she was stepping down as minister and Social Democratic Party co-leader. She cited personal circumstances after her stepdaughter's death and public attacks, including from coalition partners.

Social Democrat Alexander Schweitzer has succeeded her as labour minister. Frei said he hoped Bas's successor would quickly advance the pension reform on which the ministry had already been working.