Former European parliament president Martin Schulz looks set to be the Social Democrat candidate for German Chancellor.<br /><br /> The SPD’s current leader, economy minister Sigmar Gabriel, says he will not stand against Angela Merkel.<br /><br /> He has long said that he plans a return to domestic politics.<br /><br /> Merkel is running for a fourth term as chancellor.<br /><br /> She is tipped as the favourite to win.<br /><br /> But voters could still return the SPD to government as a part of a grand coalition.<br /><br /> That would leave Schulz in a good position for a top job.<br /><br /> The 61-year-old used his time as parliament president to raise the body’s profile on the international stage.<br /><br /> Last week, he was in Davos at the World Economic Forum holding a series of talks with European leaders.<br />
