The head of Germany's Social Democratic Party decided to step down after his candidate for party secretary lost Monday.
Franz Muntefering did not say whether he would serve as vice chancellor and labor minister under Angela Merkel in the left-right coalition government, Deutsche Welle reported.
"I left my decision open as to whether I would belong to the cabinet after the next party congress," he said.
The congress will take place in mid-November.
The new government was expected to take over at the end of November with Merkel as chancellor.
© Copyright 2005 by United Press International
