berlin germany social democrats spd leader martin schulz want chancellor angela merkel conservatives leave powerful finance ministry center-left party coalition talk report business daily handelsblatt say spd leaders agree friday open exploratory talk form government merkel center-right bloc provide chance end rare period political deadlock europe economic powerhouse inconclusive federal election merkel lose many supporters far-right sept. 24 election bank spd extend 12-year tenure attempt cobble together awkward three-way alliance two small party fail november spd members fear party risk lose identity sustain electoral defeat sign another grand coalition conservatives spd merkel junior coalition partner 2005-2009 2013-2017. handelsblatt say report publish monday schulz tell group spd lawmakers party take control finance ministry lead veteran conservative wolfgang schaeuble past eight years goal get federal finance ministry schulz quote say add past years show important finance department become spd immediately available comment report merkel conservatives spd expect meet next wednesday discuss timetable agenda exploratory talk start serious early january another spd party convention give green light kick official coalition negotiations schedule mid-january agreement would finally subject approval spd members afterwards could mean germany probably new government place march spd agree another grand coalition option spd say mean forego conclusion demand finance ministry would likely result change germany european policy focus spend investment rather austerity schaeuble take role president bundestag low house parliament become unpopular among struggle euro zone state eight years office due focus fiscal restraint structural reform merkel ally peter altmaier take role finance minister current caretaker government schulz repeatedly say europe could afford undergo another four years kind european policy schaeuble practice spd leader want merkel relinquish finance ministry handelsblatt