German interior minister Horst Seehofer was today urged to “swallow his ego” and strike a deal with Angela Merkel to end a migration stand-off threatening the government.
He offered to quit as a minister and as chairman of the Christian Social Union (CSU) at a party meeting on whether to accept an immigration plan Mrs Merkel agreed in Brussels last week, saying talks with her had been fruitless.
Her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) relies on the Bavarian conservative CSU to stay in power through a coalition formed three months ago.
Mr Seehofer, who was set to hold fresh talks with Mrs Merkel today, is demanding that she toughen her open-door refugee policy and turn back migrants at the border.
However polls have shown backing in Germany for the deal between Mrs Merkel and EU leaders, despite its vagueness.
CDU MP Kai Whittaker told the BBC: “Seehofer has to swallow his ego … it’s up to him to grab her hand and sort the problem.”
The CSU faces a challenge from the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany in elections in October.
CSU state premier Markus Soeder said his party did not want to risk the stability of the government.
