Merkel seeks way out of German crisis as
minister dangles resignation
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[July 02, 2018]
By Madeline Chambers and Joseph Nasr
BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela
Merkel made a last-ditch effort to resolve a row over migrant policy
with her conservative allies on Monday after a top minister threatened
to resign, casting doubt on whether her coalition can survive.
Interior Minister Horst Seehofer offered to quit his cabinet post and
the chairmanship of Bavaria's Christian Social Union (CSU) at a party
meeting on Sunday. It was unclear whether this was high-risk
brinkmanship aimed at making Merkel back down or whether he has simply
had enough.
The CSU had threatened to impose new controls at the German border this
week if they deemed that agreements and proposals Merkel brought back
from a European Union summit were insufficient to ease the migrant
burden.
Merkel is deadset against unilateral action by the authorities in
Bavaria, the main entry point for migrants into Germany, saying it goes
against European law.
Seehofer was later persuaded by party colleagues to talk to Merkel one
last time on Monday to try to settle the dispute, declaring he would
make his final decision within three days.
Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) rely on the CSU to maintain power
through a coalition, also including the Social Democrats, formed three
months ago after an election in September.
Germany's political crisis is the latest sign of a divide across the EU
between those who want to maintain open borders and those who want to
restrict the number of migrants entering the bloc.
The ructions in Berlin put pressure on the euro currency on Monday and
Germany's top share index opened more than one percent lower.
Merkel and Seehofer are due to meet later in the day. Before that, a
joint session of the CSU and CDU parliamentary groups is scheduled to
take place, although there was some doubt whether it would go ahead.
CDU lawmakers are still backing Merkel. But the CSU is split itself on
how far to push the row with the CDU, and faces a tough regional
election in October with a strong challenge from the far-right
Alternative for Germany (AfD).
By letting the CSU tear itself apart over its future in the coalition,
Merkel may yet rid herself of a formidable foe in Seehofer - as she has
with a string of other top conservatives in her 12-1/2 years in office.
NO LOVE LOST
Bad blood between the two runs deep.
Seehofer, 68, a combative figure who tends to speak with a smile, has
been a thorn in her side for years, especially over her open-door
migrant policy and the last three years have been punctuated by a series
of showdowns between the two.
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends a Christian Democratic Union
(CDU) leadership meeting in Berlin, Germany, July 2, 2018.
REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke
He told colleagues on Sunday he saw no alternative to turning
migrants back at the border despite Merkel's efforts in Brussels
last week and that discussions with the chancellor had been
fruitless, according to a party source.
Some party meetings got underway on Monday as CDU lawmakers lined up
to urge compromise. "This is democracy, and both sides must move,"
senior CDU lawmaker Carsten Linnemann told broadcaster ZDF.
Veteran CDU lawmaker and former finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble
warned that the conservative bloc was standing on the edge of abyss
and called for both sides to agree.
Even Bavarian premier Markus Soeder, known to take a tougher line on
migrant policy even than Seehofer, said reaching a solution was very
important. "One thing is clear: the stability of the government is
not a question for us," Soeder said, adding that he was surprised
Seehofer offered to quit.
If the row is not resolved, the 70-year old CDU-CSU alliance may
break up, robbing Merkel of her parliamentary majority. This could
see her trying to lead a minority government, or seek a new
election.
Merkel would be only two seats short of a majority in the Bundestag
lower house and may choose to rely on the Greens or pro-business
Free Democrats to back her on individual policies, or possibly try
to agree a more formal alliance.
She could also call a vote of no confidence, which she may win or
which may trigger a new election. Opinion polls suggest the AfD
would be the biggest winner in any fresh vote.
Even if Merkel, once Europe's most powerful leader, limps on as
chancellor, she is widely seen as having lost control of her
parliamentary group and her authority is waning.
(Additional reporting by Andreas Rinke; Writing by Madeline
Chambers; Editing by Toby Chopra and David Stamp)
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