<span style="color: #222222;">German Chancellor Angela Merkel has given an emotional farewell speech to her ruling Christian Democrats (CDU), as she steps down as party leader. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">She hinted that she is backing Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer to succeed her, praising her electoral performance as Chief Minister of Saarland. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer's chief rival in today's CDU vote is millionaire corporate lawyer Friedrich Merz.  The third candidate, health minister Jens Spahn, appears to have less chance of winning.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Ms Merkel's speech was punctuated by applause and she got a standing ovation of more than six minutes at the end. CDU delegates at the congress in Hamburg also held up signs saying "Thanks boss". </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Despite quitting as CDU leader she plans to complete her fourth term as German chancellor, which runs until 2021. She was first elected chancellor in 2005 and is not seeking a term beyond 2021.</span><br />''