Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer elected CDU leader

Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer has been elected in Hamburg by a slim majority the  new leader of Germany's largest political party, the CDU, Christian Democratic Union.

She is from Saarland, Germany's smallest federal state, where she was once minister president. Her home town is closer to Paris than Berlin.

Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, because of her unwieldy name is generally known as AKK. She studied at Saarland University and the University of Trier.

She is a member of the Central Committee of German Catholics.

AKK has been general secretary of the CDU since February. She is Chancellor Merkel's anointed one, the reason why she was appointed general secretary earlier this year. 

After 18 years at the helm of the CDU, Angela Merkel has handed over the CDU leadership baton to AKK but she stays on as German Chancellor until the next general election, at least that's the plan.