The leader of the Free Voters party, Hubert Aiwanger, is now calling Federal Labor Minister Bärbel Bas, a far-left Social Democrat (SPD) politician, to resign from her post after she delivered pro-diversity comments while using derogatory language towards tens of millions of ethnic Germans.
The controversy stems from remarks made by Bas during an appearance at a cultural diversity event, “Day of Action: Cohesion in Diversity,” where she argued that immigration is necessary “for the diversity in our society.”
🇩🇪🔴Germany needs even more diversity, says Labor Minister Bärbel Bas, who then refers to Germany before mass immigration as "uniform gray," and even "brown," in a nod to the Nazi era.
"And we want to fight for color and also stand against this so-called 'uniform grey,' or I… pic.twitter.com/l4mrJfDngO
— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) May 27, 2026The remarks sparked widespread debate across Germany, including criticisms that they were deeply historically inaccurate and an insult to Germany’s culture and society dating back thousands of years.
In a blunt statement published on X, Aiwanger, who also serves as the Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs, wrote: “Ms. Bas, please resign.”
Aiwanger contends that anyone attempting to intentionally alter the country’s cultural landscape is acting in a way that is “fundamentally violating the law.”
Frau Bas, treten Sie zurück. Sie verstoßen fundamental gegen Gesetze wenn Sie die Kultur gezielt verändern wollen. Der Staat hat die Kultur zu schützen, unter anderem geschieht das über die Kulturhoheit der Länder. Wer das gezielt aushebelt und die bestehende Kultur als…
— Hubert Aiwanger (@HubertAiwanger) June 1, 2026Bas’ specific remarks were: “And we want to fight for color and also stand against this so-called ‘uniform grey,’ or I even call it ‘brown’ (Nazi). Even if some people may even long for it. That’s why it’s especially important to me as Minister of Labour to address this here. We need the people who come to us, even as high-skilled labor, yes. But we also need them to ensure diversity in our society.”
Aiwanger strongly rebuked the labor minister for what he described as defaming the nation’s existing culture by labeling it as “uniform brown.” According to the Free Voters party head, individuals who harbor such viewpoints are ultimately “out of place in the federal government.” To reinforce his position, Aiwanger pointed to the government’s duty to protect its cultural heritage, referencing the Bavarian Constitution as a legal precedent.
This represents just the latest in a wave of pushback against Bas following her address on the nationwide “Day of Action: Cohesion in Diversit,” where she said the societal benefits of immigration are clear: “We need the people who come to us, even as professionals, yes. But we also need them for diversity in our society. This is just as important.“
Her perspective drew additional criticism from CDU politician Wolfgang Bosbach, who told WELT TV that the minister’s phrasing had effectively “placed large segments of the population under a latent suspicion of fascism,” leading him to suggest the chancellor remove her.
Bas says she has been targeted with extreme hate online for her various remarks.
“I have become such a personified enemy image,” she told Rheinische Post.
Recently, she received pushback for her remarks that “nobody immigrates to enter the social welfare system.”
She claimed the vitriol directed at her is not rooted in constructive feedback, but is instead designed for “putting people down“ and “killing them.” Despite the pressure she says she is facing, Bas said she is not leaving her position and said she did not want to make way for populists to gain power.
