German Chancellor Mr Gerhard Schroeder has again threatened to resign in a bid to pressure members of his Social Democrats in parliament to support him, Bildnewspaper reported today.
"If you don't want to follow me, then you can go and look for someone else," Mr Schroeder was quoted in the newspaper as telling regional SPD leaders at a closed-door meeting at party headquarters yesterday.
Mr Schroeder faces a key parliamentary vote on health reforms today amid fears rebels will refuse to support it and cast a shadow over his bid to revive a stagnant economy.
Mr Schroeder has threatened several times to quit to bring rebel deputies in line during in his five years in office. He has faced criticism from the SPD's left wing over economic-reform plans and three regional election routs this year.
The newspaper said Mr Schroeder told SPD state and regional leaders in the meeting that the next three months will be decisive for his government. It quoted Mr Schroeder saying he was ready to accept any challenge from his party.
"And then I'll become just a simple member of a local SPD organisation and will name the names, year after year, of those who are responsible for it," Mr Schroeder is quoted saying.