New party aide close to Germany's Merkel, but no clone

BERLIN –  German Chancellor Angela Merkel has shown her conservative party that she’s still very much in charge and keen to shape its future, installing a close ally who’s popular in her own right in a top party post following weeks of muttering over a difficult coalition deal.

A congress of Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union is expected to elect Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer on Monday as the party’s general secretary, a week after the chancellor unveiled her surprise choice. The 55-year-old’s new job, for which she is stepping down as governor of Saarland state, could put her in a position to fill Merkel’s shoes one day — if she plays her cards right.

The change comes at a critical time for the CDU following a lackluster election showing in September.