CDU’s new leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (Photo: theguardian.com)

Kramp-Karrenbauer was Saarland's regional governor from 2011-2018 and is often portrayed as a "mini Merkel."

The same day, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has her final speech as a leader of her party.

Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, leader of Germany’s Christian Social Union (CSU), sent his congratulations to the newly-elected president of CDU, stressing the cooperation between the two parties. Andrea Nahles, leader of the Social Democrats said SPD will keep closer cooperation with CDU, adding that she hopes Ms. Kramp-Karrenbauer will better address climate change crisis, social connectivity, and rapid changes of digital industries and finance.