Lower Saxony without a ministerial post: Lechner emphasizes power and influence!

Lower Saxony without a ministerial post: Lechner emphasizes power and influence!

The political landscape in Lower Saxony remains in transition. How n-tv reports, the Christian Democrats have high expectations of the new federal government, but are not just relying on ministerial posts to gain influence. Lower Saxony, the third largest CDU state association, brings a lot of weight to Berlin with the EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. This can also be seen in the commitment of CDU parliamentary group and state leader Sebastian Lechner, who is convinced that Lower Saxony will have “visible influence” through parliamentary state secretaries such as Silvia Breher, Mareike Wulf and Gitta Connemann.

Lechner makes it clear that his party is not powerless, even though Lower Saxony is without a ministerial position. “There is close communication with Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU),” he emphasizes. His hope of fighting better for the main sources of income here, such as the ports, through close cooperation with Berlin clearly resonates.

Economic relevance and challenges

Lower Saxony is not only politically interesting, but also an economic heavyweight. The federal state in northwestern Germany extends over 47,614 km² and has around 8 million inhabitants (as of 2021). The country is surrounded by various neighboring states, with the North Sea and the large port city of Hamburg playing an important role. Within the borders of Lower Saxony there are also two enclaves of Bremen, which bring with them different economic dynamics, as does the district of Oldenburg, which functions as an agricultural and industrial center.

The region, which also offers many tourist destinations such as the East Frisian Islands, has an exceptional geography from the flat North German lowlands to the low mountain ranges in the south. The economy is dependent on various sectors: from agricultural production to the automotive industry, where Volkswagen in particular plays a key role.

Political stability and membership

However, the CDU also faces the problem of internal differences. Energy policy and the strategic importance of the ports are currently hotly debated points on which Lechner is calling for more support from the federal capital. “There is no dispute over the direction between Lower Saxony and the CDU federal party,” he explains, but also demonstrates an open ear for the different points of view within the party.

Lower Saxony, founded on November 1, 1946, is now a democratically structured federal state with a constitution that emphasizes democracy, human rights and environmental awareness. The population is 71.93% Christian, with a growing proportion of atheists and other faiths. The socio-economic situation shows that Lower Saxony is not left empty-handed even in times of great challenges; With around 51,000 members, the CDU remains the strong voice in the country and is full of energy - even without key positions in the new federal government.