Spotlight: Kramp-Karrenbauer succeeds Merkel as German CDU's new leader

A staff member collects ballots during the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party conference in Hamburg, Germany, on Dec. 7, 2018. Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer was elected new chairperson of Germany's ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU) at the party's 31st national congress here on Friday, succeeding Chancellor Angela Merkel who has led the party for 18 years. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)