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

Participants of the party conference of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) prepare to fill in their ballots for the election of new chairperson of CDU 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/Shan Yuqi)