berlin wolfgang schaeuble decision step aside german finance minister give free democratic party long crave chance shape policy covet perch chancellor angela merkel next coalition government however opportunity also present party conundrum fdp leader christian lindner signal months would prefer lead business-friendly party parliament rather take cabinet job merkel lindner stick stance fdp return parliament four-year hiatus must find someone else fill one important position international economic financial policy person replace schaeuble could also carry prestigious title vice chancellor party member besides lindner kind stature wolfgang kubicki whose political skills unquestioned also know loose cannon reputation may suit sensitive job ill-judged word move global financial market lindner lot options say one senior figure party kubicki might one profile political weight finance ministry seem fdp take second big party expect three-way coalition merkel conservatives green would first choice cabinet post post become influential past decade germany world fourth large economy navigate global financial crisis euro zone turmoil schaeuble become president parliament know budget discipline tough stance toward struggle euro partner like greece whoever replace play crucial role shape germany response call french president emmanuel macron ambitious overhaul eu euro zone finance ministry absolutely crucial next government shape germany fiscal stance future europe say jens boysen-hogrefe kiel institute world economy one besides lindner deserve credit fdp revival disastrous 2013 election result 65-year-old kubicki quick-witted lawyer sail around yacht liberty know one outspoken colorful figure german politics early year donald trump announce travel ban seven mainly muslim countries kubicki say berlin retaliate bar u.s. president enter germany make clear past interest finance job 2010 interview newspaper die zeit say position might lure home port kiel northern state schleswig-holstein one post would interest finance minister kubicki say time finance minister key job would like prove budget consolidation work ask friday german daily handelsblatt whether want job kubicki dodge question say policy important cabinet post interview die zeit show party merkel might second thoughts explain yet make move berlin kubicki tell paper could turn drinker possibly also whoremonger paint hedonistic picture political life berlin replete alcohol-soaked receptions trysts random women ask comment today kubicki marry third wife say become ethically morally center intervene years name fdp politicians circulate potential finance minister include werner hoyer president european investment bank eib carl-ludwig thiele bundesbank volker wissing former head bundestag finance committee otto fricke former head budget committee two members european parliament alexander graf lambsdorff michael theurer also mention one completely rule merkel christian democrats cdu keep post peter altmaier expect replace schaeuble new government form could favorite however scenario several politicians berlin say likely lindner compel take finance ministry kubicki slide parliamentary leader see role suit strengths lindner face fdp outside government would frown upon merkel try hold together unwieldy coalition fdp green combination never try federal level big differences fdp green economic environmental european policy add merkel bavarian sister party christian social union csu push hard line immigration hard see party bridge policy gap hold together regardless take job big change fiscal policy see unlikely fdp call 30 billion euros tax cut unlikely get way coalition talk remain commit schwarze null balance budget schaeuble defend might see new impulses fdp finance minister say boysen-hogrefe kiel institute count big change schwarze null remain priority germany 's fdp look fill schaeuble 's big shoe