Berlin, Oct 25, SPA -- Germany could have a new chancellor on November22 _ more than two months after inconclusive parliamentaryelections _ party officials said Tuesday, but only if thetwo leading parties can agree on how to plug a ¤35 billion(nearly US$42 billion) budget shortfall. Members of Chancellor-designate Angela Merkel'sconservative Christian Democrats met Monday for a five-hourround of negotiations with their prospective coalitionpartners, the left-of-center Social Democrats. The talksconcentrated on how to plug the nation's financial gap bythe end of 2006 in order to bring Germany within EuropeanUnion budget limits in 2007. "We want to master the problems, but will have to makebig, big efforts" to tackle the problems left by outgoingChancellor Gerhard Schroeder's seven-year tenure, Merkeltold reporters. Merkel said there were still "considerable differences"over exactly how to tackle the budget deficit and reformGermany's tightly regulated labor market. Both she and Social Democrat leaders said, however, thatthey were confident they would find an agreement bymid-November, opening the way for her to become thecountry's first female chancellor. Members of her Christian Democrats said Tuesday the voteto formally approve of Merkel as chancellor could takeplace on Nov. 22, should the negotiations proceed asplanned, The Associated Press reported.--SPA1506 Local Time 1206 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/298586