Merkel bids emotional farewell to party

BERLIN (DPA), DEC 7, 2018 - German Chancellor Angela Merkel received a standing ovation that lasted nearly 10 minutes on Friday after giving her final speech as head of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) at a party conference set to determine her successor.

Dozens of CDU delegates at the conference in Hamburg held up banners reading “Danke Chefin” - German for “Thanks, boss” - as they listened to Merkel’s final speech after 18 years at the helm of the party.

Merkel cited Germany’s balanced budget policy, the end of military conscription in 2011 and the management of the refugee crisis in 2015-16 as major achievements of the conservative CDU during her tenure as leader.“we have a lot left to do,” Merkel said as she walked off the stage, just hours before a party leadership vote.

Three candidates are running for the top CDU job.