Lower Saxony is about to change: Who will be the new Minister of Economic Affairs?

The Lower Saxony state parliament is faced with a change at the head of the state government, since Olaf Lies (SPD) is to be elected as the new prime minister on May 20. In the upcoming press conference, to which the SPD invites you for Thursday, read its plans for the future state government. It is expected that they also include its successor to the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Lies takes over the office of Stephan Weil, who returns to the top of the country after more than twelve years.

The SPD parliamentary group leader Grant Hendrik Tonne is traded as a possible successor in the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Tonne was Minister of Culture from 2017 to 2022 and is considered a favorite for the vacant position. Prime Minister Stephan Weil announced his withdrawal on April 1 and nominated Lies as his successor in office.

planned cabinet environment

Olaf Lies will also announce the members of the new cabinet on Thursday. It is planned that Frank Doods, the current Economic State Secretary, follows up as head of the State Chancellery. In addition, Matthias Wunderling-Weilbier, who previously works in the European Ministry, is to switch to the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

In the Ministry of European State, two new State Secretary is expected. Veronika Dicke, head of department in the State Chancellery, is to lead the Lower Saxony state representative in Berlin, while Melanie Walter, co-chair of the SPD city association Hannover, is under discussion for another post. The future of the European Minister Wiebke Osigus is currently unclear.

The SPD has a stable majority in the state parliament with 81 MPs, and the change was discussed with the coalition partner Greens who support the continuation of the coalition.

There are several potential successors for the business department, whereby the decision should be made until the upcoming press conference. According to reports from stern.de and bild.de Miersch candidates for this position.