SPD chair and federal labor minister Bärbel Bas will not run as top candidate for the 2027 state election in North Rhine-Westphalia. She prefers to focus on her responsibilities in Berlin. Bas shared these views in an interview with the Rheinische Post.
Bärbel Bas, currently SPD chair, directly elected member of the Bundestag, and federal labor minister, has made clear she will not switch to state politics in North Rhine-Westphalia. In an interview with the Rheinische Post, she stated: «To become minister-president, I would have to run for the NRW state parliament. I will not do that.»
Bas highlighted her commitments at the federal level: «I am SPD chair, directly elected Bundestag member, and federal labor minister. As the federal government, we still have much to accomplish. My tasks are in Berlin.» This rules out her candidacy for the minister-president position.
Regarding speculations about Duisburg's mayor Sören Link as a potential top candidate, Bas remarked: «Yes, he would have what it takes. But Sören Link told me in a conversation that he is not available.» Instead, she praised SPD parliamentary group leader Jochen Ott: «We have a very good parliamentary group leader in Jochen Ott.» She expressed full confidence in the SPD state chairs to propose a suitable candidate to challenge incumbent Minister-President Hendrik Wüst (CDU) by January.
This decision comes amid preparations for the 2027 state election, which could be pivotal for the SPD in North Rhine-Westphalia.