Chancellor Angela Merkel has appealed to German lawmakers from all parties to back plans to boost the firepower of the eurozone rescue fund in a vote set to take place hours before tomorrow’s crunch EU summit.
Ms Merkel needs to win the parliamentary vote to have a mandate to negotiate a deal with other EU leaders aimed at delivering a range of measures to stop the eurozone debt crisis spiralling.
The bill is set to go through parliament as the government has agreed a joint motion on the plans with the opposition Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens, but Ms Merkel still faces a rebellion from within her own centre-right coalition.
A test run held today showed she is likely to win the vote without having to rely on support from opposition parties - but only just.
In the ballot, a total of 16 lawmakers from Ms Merkel's coalition parties either voted against or abstained.
The proposals, to increase the efficiency of the €440bn fund without pouring more taxpayers' money into it, are the subject of fierce debate in Europe's largest economy and biggest contributor to the fund.
"The international negotiating position must be to get the best for Germany and for Europe,"Ms Merkel told reporters.
"I am bound by my oath of office to avert damage for the German people, to do good for the German people. That must be the guiding principle in my negotiations," she said, adding she was pushing for as much support as possible in the vote.
Ms Merkel is battling sliding ratings for herself and her centre-right coalition over her handling of the eurozone crisis and most Germans oppose granting more aid to Greece.
Critics at home and abroad have accused her of taking a dithering approach that has exacerbated the debt crisis.
Peter Altmaier, parliamentary floor leader of Ms Merkel's conservative bloc, urged all parties to back the plans.
"Europe expects us to be the standard bearer on this matter and the Bundestag to take a clear position that stretches across the parties," he told reporters.
Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has hit back at German and French leaders who demanded at Sunday's summit that he introduce additional economic reforms.
Speaking after an emergency cabinet meeting last night, Mr Berlusconi declared that no country in the European Union was in a position to give lessons to others.
Ms Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have been strongly criticised by Mr Berlusconi for demanding that he take additional measures to address the country's near €2 trillion debt problem.
While saying Italy would present firm proposals at tomorrow's summit, Mr Berlusconi added: "Nobody in the union can appoint themselves administrators... No one is in a position to be giving lessons to their partners."
The problem for Mr Berlusconi is that markets remain highly sceptical about his deficit cutting plans, and despite an emergency cabinet meeting last night, Mr Berlusconi failed to convince his coalition partners to support pension reform.
