An inconclusive general election result three weeks ago hasleft Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives looking for acoalition partner in the form of either the center-left SocialDemocrats (SPD) or the left-leaning Greens.
Schaeuble said he expected it to become clear in the comingweek who would be the conservatives' favored coalition partnerand hoped talks could be wound up quickly.
"I believe it will go more quickly than you think. I believewe will have a new government by about the middle of November,"he said at a news conference on the sidelines of InternationalMonetary Fund meetings.