The SPD exchanges important state chief – Diepresse.com

Lower Saxony’s long -time Prime Minister Stephan Weil (66) withdraws. According to information from the German Press Agency and other media, he will withdraw the social democrat with a May start of both as a SPD state chairman and as head of government of the northern German state. The withdrawal of the 66-year-old is a turning point for the SPD in Lower Saxony: Weil has been SPD state chief since the beginning of 2012 and has been the prime minister since the beginning of 2013.

The SPD Lower Saxony has announced a statement by Weil in Hanover for 2 p.m. According to the « Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung », Weil’s successor should become State Minister of Economics Olaf Lies (SPD). Weil had already announced in his last re -election that this was his last legislative period. So far, it was unclear whether he was doing the full term or resigned beforehand.

CDU demanded new election in the event of a withdrawal

Weil is the third-party prime minister in Germany behind Reiner Haseloff (CDU/Saxony-Anhalt) and Winfried Kretschmann (Greens/Baden-Württemberg). Previously, from 2006 to 2013 he was mayor of the state capital of Hanover.

Speculations because the office as head of government could hand over prematurely to provide his successor to his successor before the next state election, there had been for years. Because the rumors showed back for a long time. If his health allow it, he wanted to remain in office by 2027, he said several times. The CDU therefore accused him of a word break a few days ago if he retreated. Because either had to stand by his word and remain in office until 2027-« or they clear the way for new elections, » said Lower Saxony’s CDU parliamentary group leader Sebastian Lechner in the state parliament.

One of the most important national associations for the SPD

The change of leadership in Hanover for the Social Democrats falls into a time of upheaval after the historical defeat in the recent Bundestag election. Party leader Lars Klingbeil announced a generation change on election evening. However, it is already 57 years old. According to North Rhine-Westphalia, the state association is traditionally one of the most powerful in the SPD and significantly shapes the direction of the party. With party leader Klingbeil, Minister of Labor Hubertus Heil, the popular Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius and Secretary General Matthias Miersch, four top social democrats grew up here.

Lower Saxony is also a bank for the SPD in elections: it regularly cuts better there than in Germany. In the 2022 state election, she drove more than 33 percent – values ​​that the SPD can only dream of in the federal government. Because often acted as a bridge builder between state and federal politics- even without leading role in the Federal SPD.

Lies was already head of state of the SPD from 2010 to 2012 and even then had the goal of moving into the State Chancellery. Before the 2013 election, he had to give up in a membership decision about the SPD top candidate. For twelve years as a minister later, he is now to become head of government. (APA/dpa)