German Chancellor Angela Merkel faces dissent from within in her Christian Democrats (CDU) over a regional leader's controversial funeral eulogy for a Nazi-era judge last week.
Mrs Merkel rebuked Guenther Oettinger, Christian Democrat (CDU) state premier in Baden-Wuerttenberg, for his one-sided defence of disgraced judge Hans Filbinger, who issued death sentences in World War II.
But Mr Oettinger refused to retract his comments despite the condemnation of historians and leaders of all political parties.
Political analysts believe he deliberately aimed to win back conservative voters put off by Mrs Merkel's centrist policies.
"I believe Filbinger was an opponent of the dictatorship," Mr Oettinger said in a radio interview today, repeating the comment that sparked widespread outrage and anger from the family of one deserter executed after Mr Filbinger's prosecution.
"My comments were justifiable," Mr Filbinger added.
Mrs Merkel and Mr Oettinger will have another chance to discuss the issue with rest of the CDU leadership at what is likely to be a stormy executive meeting in Berlin tomorrow.
Mrs Merkel's high-profile leadership during Germany's European Union presidency which runs until June, has led to the CDU's high standing in the opinion polls, while the Social Democrats (SPD) they share power with had been slumping.
But that was before the Nazi row erupted. Among those calling for Mr Oettinger to apologise or resign have been the Central Council of Jews in Germany and the Simon Wiesenthal Centre in Jerusalem.
SPD leaders said they will not work with Mr Oettinger, the CDU's head of a federal reform commission, until he apologises.
"Oettinger has to retract and correct what he said, and the CDU will have to ensure that happens," said SPD chairman Kurt Beck in an interview with ZDF television today.
"It's irresponsible. It hurts Germany and democracy," he added.