Germany: Bas quits as SPD co-chair amid coalition friction

Bärbel Bas, a longstanding top official with Social Democrats (SPD), resigned her post on Monday citing the death of her stepdaughter and "open attacks" within Germany's ruling coalition of the SPD and Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Christian Democrat (CDU) bloc.

"I am currently unable to muster the strength to fully carry out my government and party duties on short notice, I have decided to step down from both offices,” the 58-year-old said.