In public, the Social Democratic party has rallied behind Gerhard Schröder since he shocked the country on Sunday with the announcement of early elections, but privately the party is deeply divided.

Since the SPD lost its historical stronghold in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's largest state, on Sunday, the SPD's top officials and its parliamentary group have endorsed the decision, giving Mr Schröder their backing ahead of the poll, tentatively scheduled for September 18.