It did not take long. One day after Franz Müntefering, the Social Democratic party (SPD) chairman, revealed the political deal that will make Angela Merkel, leader of the Christian Democratic Union, the next chancellor of Germany, the SPD descended into civil war.

Unless peace is restored by the time Ms Merkel succeeds Gerhard Schröder next month, the infighting could affect the party's ability to shape policies as the junior partner in her future "grand coalition" cabinet.