German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated that both the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU) “have a common goal to better coordinate migration, to tax, and to significantly reduce the number of people arriving,” during a press conference in Berlin on Monday.
The press event came after the CDU committee had met to discuss the current dispute with Bavaria’s CSU over migration and asylum policies.
Last Saturday, Seehofer allegedly castigated Merkel at a meeting with his closest aides, saying: “I can’t work with this woman anymore.”
Commenting on that remark, Merkel said: “I’ve spoken to Horst Seehofer about what concerns our cooperation; a Chancellor and an Interior Minister have to be able to communicate.”
“I have received support and a mandate for this. So that I can, in the context of the European summit on the 28 and 29 June, deal in bilateral negotiations with European partners,” added the German Chancellor.
However, she also insisted that, despite disputes, the CDU and CSU have common aims.