9 minutes of applause for Merkel, it explodes in tears (Video)

The party's current Christian Democrat leader, CDU Angela Merkel, left the post after 18 years, with a speech conveyed with cheers and French applause. “has been a great honour, a great pleasure”. With those words Merkel finished her 35-minute speech, for the last time as CSU chairman. Merkel made a review of the time at the party's helm, emphasising successes, but also failures at various stages. The Chancellor said the time has now come “for a new chapter”, and invited her party to remain united.

Tears and Gloves

After the talk she greeted with a long applause of about 10 minutes. The 1001 delegates gathered in Hamburg were raised from the country, many holding banners with the inscription: “Thank you chief”. There was no shortage of tears among many delegates. While Merkel was very personal and moved by long applause, which often interrupted her speech. 64-year-old Angela Merkel leaves the post of chairman of the CDU party after a total of 18 years. But she continues to remain German Chancellor.

In good words about the leadership of the Chancellor in the past period, all who were spoken before her spoke but also after her. Even though Merkel herself knew that during this time there were no easy events. Where disputes take us together, this is best understood by the CSU and CSU in recent years”, said Merkel, who called on these parties to continue co-operating closely.

In the afternoon selects successor/son

Convention delegates this afternoon will choose the successor, or successor, of Angela Merkel. So far, CDU Secretary General Annegret Kramp-Carrenbauer, former head of the parliamentary group in Bundestag Friedrich Merz and Health Minister Jens Spahn have run. If neither wins more than 50% of the vote in the first round, in the second round qualify the first two. /DW/