Angela Merkel is facing a rebellion from regional leaders and voters over Germany's call to extend lockdown restrictions following of a terrible start to the vaccine rollout.
Several of the country's state leaders defied the Chancellor by allowing garden centres, florists and nail parlours to reopen from Monday.
Mrs Merkel had pushed for an extension to current lockdown restrictions, warning the country faced a 'third wave' of coronavirus if rules were lifted too quickly.
But Germany's government system means regional leaders have power over lockdowns. Even Bavarian leader Markus Söder, one of Mrs Merkel's staunchest supporters on the lockdown, is said to have moved away from her position.