Merkel silent on finance ministry speculation at Schaeuble's birthday bash

FILE PHOTO: German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks to Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble Sigmar Gabriel during a session of the German lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, in Berlin, Germany, October 15, 2015. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke/File Photo

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel lauded her veteran finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble at a birthday party in his honour on Monday, as a potential coalition partner laid claim to his ministry as their price for keeping her in power.

Speaking at Schaeuble's 75th birthday celebration, Merkel paid tribute to his 45 years as a member of the German parliament, but gave few clues as to whether she wanted him to remain in his job after next Sunday's election which she is on track to win.