State government: The era because ends: The Normal One

Stephan Weil has a long connection to football: at the end of the 1960s, today’s Prime Minister of Lower Saxony near Hannover 96 was used as a ball boy, and even today the SPD man has a regular place on the west grandstand at his heart. How could you describe because that is said goodbye to office today? Certainly as “The Normal One”.

Just as coach Jürgen Klopp once gave himself this title to withdraw from “The Special One”, José Mourinho, because when asked how he wants to be remembered: “Oh, like to be pretty normal. I did not feel special, but as a citizen with a special task.” Already in 2022 he told the “time” that Klopp’s self -designation was “very personable”.

For twelve years, because of this down -to -earthness at the top of the state government – sometimes with the Greens, sometimes with the CDU, always as a kind of counter -draft to the sometimes shrill Markus Söder in Bavaria.

Beast in the SPD country of Klingbeil and Pistorius

“I think there is a great need for democratic politicians who do not stage themselves as if they are something special,” says Weil about his political style. “At least in northern Germany, politicians are also well advised to make it clear that the matter is more important to them than their own person.”

Weil’s retreat is a turning point for the mighty Lower Saxony SPD state association. Federal party leader Lars Klingbeil, Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius and the SPD parliamentary group leader in the Bundestag, Matthias Miersch, also have their roots in Lower Saxony.

Olaf Lies: The “Prince Charles von der Leine”

Because the successor as head of government is to become the previous Economics Minister Olaf Lies. It’s not a surprise. Lies has been traded as a secret throne for years. As “Prince Charles von der Leine”, the “taz” even titled the 58-year-old.

After all, reading ambitions have been known since 2012. At that time, he competed as the SPD state chairman with the then mayor of Hanover because, for the election in 2013-and narrowly lost. The relationship between the former competitors is still good. For twelve years, Lies has been a minister under Weil.

In the comparison of the two Social Democrats, lets appear, less pale than because. A change of course is not to be expected with him. The red-green coalition wants to continue-although in the future without the Ministry of European Station.

CDU suspects tactical maneuver for 2027

The 66 -year -old Weil justified his retreat with his age. Sleeping problems also plagued him, he confessed in early April, the energy would decrease. “With the decision I am completely at peace,” says Weil.

But the rumors about a relay change has been so long that the CDU suspects a tactical maneuver for the 2027 state election. “Basically, they never wanted to start this legislative period, and they don’t feel like going to the end now,” said CDU boss Sebastian Lechner because even before the resignation was officially announced.

Because: personal and political considerations have met

Because this is denied. He admits: After he said early on that he would not start again in 2027, the country needs someone who is willing to take responsibility in the long term. “That is why my personal considerations with the political considerations met very well.”

There was no agreement with Lies for an early change. “On the one hand, what was there was his knowledge that I thought a lot of him, and my knowledge that he is ready. And nothing more.”

The Greens carry the change to read largely closed. The AfD, on the other hand, criticizes that it is not enough for a turn to “replace the head at the top as long as the party book remains the same”.

Berlin “wouldn’t have really fit”

Twelve years as Prime Minister – did she not irritate you to move to Berlin at some point, Lord Weil? “Not really,” replies the SPD politician succinctly. In 2019, when the SPD was looking for a new chairman, it was “pressed”. Even at other times there was a chance of a change. “If I had signaled afterwards that I wanted to go to federal politics, then I would have had the opportunity.”

But: “I don’t think my political style in Berlin was absolutely successful. Somehow I wouldn’t really have fit into the rules of the state of federal politics.” In Berlin there is a pronounced internal orientation. “But Germany is much larger than Berlin-Mitte,” says Weil.

“Don’t want to be a zombie in the state parliament”

He does not have a master plan for the time that comes now. Having less pressure – he is looking forward to that. For the first time, Weil plans to take part in a sailing tour off the Croatian coast.

He also made one thing beyond that: as an ex-government chief, he does not want to interfere constantly. “I don’t want to be the role of the angry, old, white man. I definitely don’t want to be.”