According to Die Welt, Schulz has become ‘persona-non grata’ at the highest levels of Merkel’s party, partly due to his reaction to the UK’s referendum vote, after which he called for a “genuine EU government” that would be directly elected, and controlled by the European Parliament and a second legislative chamber representing the member states.

“The SPD stands for everything that makes people angry at Europe,” CSU General Secretary Peter Tauber told Die Welt. Gerda Hasselfeldt, the Chairman of the CSU Group in the Bundestag, added, “The SPD falls into the typical socialist pattern. Where problems arise, it must be resolved with other people’s money, and there must be more centralisation and more government.” Julia Klöckner, a Vice-President of the CDU, told Die Welt, “There is an agreement, which is to change when his term ends. And given that Mr Schulz is a man of honour, I assume he will stick to his own commitment.”

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker rebuffed similar calls to step down over Brexit, telling MEPs in Strasbourg on Tuesday, “I refuse to let the Commission be blamed for the outcome of the referendum.” European Council Chief Donald Tusk urged national leaders to stop “often unfair” attacks on EU institutions. He added, however, that the EU cannot solve any serious problems “against the will of the member states.”

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte yesterday said that the EU must not continue with a “business as usual” approach, as to do so would be “the worst possible response,” after the British referendum. He urged against further political integration and a federal Europe, “because that too would be a denial of the sentiment felt by many Europeans to whom the EU is – or has become – something remote and aloof.”