FILE - In this May 25, 2014 file picture Social Democrat politician Martin Schulz, lifts a thumb in Berlin, Germany. SPD head Sigmar Gabriel told Der Stern magazine that he believed his party would have better chances if someone else stood as its candidate for chancellor.The party said Tuesday Jan. 24, 2017 Gabriel instead proposed Martin Schulz, who recently decided not to seek another term as European Parliament president to return to domestic politics, as the chancellor candidate. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn,file)