Five Ways Merkel’s Coalition Crisis Could Blow Up or Blow Over

Compromise, clash, resignation, confidence vote all on table
Merkel facing one of her biggest tests in 13 years as leader

Merkel Courts Government Crisis in Refugee Clash With Allies

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By Patrick Donahue

June 15, 2018 at 5:16 PM UTC

Updated on

June 15, 2018 at 11:00 PM UTC

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A dispute in Angela Merkel’s coalition over migration policy has swiftly escalated into one of the biggest tests of her chancellorship.

The clash has opened a rift at the heart of the German leader’s own camp, between her Christian Democratic Union and its CSU Bavarian sister party. How the conflict is resolved will determine the chancellor’s fate, possibly as soon as Monday.