The German chancellor’s office was forced to intervene at the weekend to block an unauthorised attempt by Thomas de Maiziere, the interior minister, to change the asylum rules for Syrian refugees.
But Wolfgang Schäuble, the influential finance minister, has since come out in support of Mr de Maiziere’s initiative, alongside a host of senior party figures.
The interior minister recently ordered ministry officials to stop automatically recognising Syrians as refugees under the Geneva conventions, it has emerged.
He wants most Syrians to be granted “subsidiary protection”, a more limited form of temporary asylum, and prevent them bringing family members to Germany.
Mrs Merkel’s office quickly overturned the order, which appeared to have been issued without the chancellor’s knowledge.
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