Bärbel Bas: The Social Democrat who could be everything

It could be worse, Bärbel Bas jokes on the phone, but in fact: The 56-year-old can hardly complain about her current prospects.

Black and red is still put into the factory, the personnel issues-supposedly-are only clarified at the very end. However, the social democrat is practically considered an important role in the future coalition, is traded for many top posts. Minister of Health or Labor? SPD party chair? Everything is conceivable.

Does that flatter? Or does that ensure expectation pressure? BAS, which was one of the rather inconspicuous Social Democrats in the faction a few years ago, waves modestly. It is always nice when you are thought to be capable of being capable of, she says at the listener. “But it also puts me under pressure to talk to a lot.” In the end, she has to make a decision on how it goes on for her.

And where, on what post.

The SPD was trimmed to a historical low in the Bundestag election, only the third strongest faction in the Bundestag. Bärbel Bas therefore had to hand in her office as President of the Bundestag to Julia Klöckner from the CDU. However, the comrade did not lose influence – on the contrary. It is estimated across wings. In addition, other leading social democrats have already excluded one step to Berlin. Anke Rehlinger, the head of government in Saarland, for example. And im star Just Manuela Schwesig, Prime Minister in Schwerin. “I want to save my country from the AfD” ,.

So everything seems to be running on BAS, it is only unclear which top job she decides. BAS has repeatedly won her constituency in Duisburg, for the fifth time in a row, against the national trend. This is rare and gives it special authority in the federal party, but also in the powerful and influential SPD state association North Rhine-Westphalia.

It is important to be available and visible on site, says Bas. People did not want to take away politicians who no longer looked after the supposed small stuff. “So I urgently have to go back to Duisburg, I have been locked in Berlin for almost three weeks now – I need some gravity again.”

BAS belongs to the exclusive “19er round” from the Union and SPD, which is supposed to bring black and red to the finish. The goal is to finish this week. “There are still a few thick chunks,” says Bas, the US tariffs did not make the negotiations easier. But everyone knew that you have to come to the end promptly. The world situation requires it.

There is not much time to reflect, there is no removal. The negotiation days are long, usually start between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. Consultation, back. But when a time window appears, Bas tells BAS, then go for a walk and listen to music. “Everything across the garden, the charts up and down, preferably something with a lot of bass.” There should be “a little boom” on the ears.

The social democrat is particularly ready in the back office and reads many papers-not least those who have been added after the unwanted publication of the upstream working group results: information and advice from associations or companies, for example.

Bas’ earlier position as President of the Bundestag, Qua Office an intermediary role that does not know any party color, should benefit her. If the situation is very hooked, she says, then in doubt a coffee will help you put the heads together in a smaller round.

After the secondary school leaving certificate, she learned welding at the vocational school, but later went to the Duisburg Transport Society and rose into a leadership position through all kinds of additional training. In addition, she joined the SPD in 1988, at the age of 20. In 2009 she was elected to the Bundestag for the first time and recommended herself as a health politician before she was elected parliamentary president in 2021. She is a soccer fan (MSV Duisburg) and drives a Harley-Davidson (Low Rider).

Teamwork is important, regardless of whether you are in a leadership position or not – she took this from her previous professional life for politics. “You also have to be able to withdraw if it serves the matter,” she says, “conversely, but also proceeding and showing leadership at the right moment.”

This also aptly summarizes the current situation of BAS.

The 56-year-old may not have to jump so much to land as a minister. The party does not have many other options after the rejection of Rehlinger and Schwesig. Saskia Esken is still chair, but she is controversial. And many in the party assume that Esken will move into the cabinet and that she could soon vacate the SPD base. At the end of June, the SPD plans to decide on its new top at an early party congress.

In view of the surplus of men from Lower Saxony, the opportunities for a woman with management experience from NRW stand up for this. Or does it draw the Duisburg native, who value her “grip”, but after North Rhine-Westphalia? On May 10th, the SPD state party will also be reorganized, and it is still unclear whether the previous state chairman will start again.

Bärbel Bas is still covering what her next steps are. She keeps all the options open, does not rule out anything. Therefore, a quick question at the end: whether it is good in making decisions?