Overview
- Spiegel won the Regionsversammlung vote with 49 of 77 ballots, with 23 against and five abstentions.
- She said she will relocate to the Region Hannover for the role, which carries an eight-year term.
- Protesters in Hannover opposed her election, with around 50 people holding a vigil and displaying crosses and candles for the 135 Ahrtal victims.
- The former federal family minister has faced sustained criticism for her actions as Rhineland-Palatinate environment minister during the 2021 flood, including taking a family trip to France soon after the disaster.
- She was nominated by Regionspräsident Steffen Krach and, according to administrative figures reported locally, prevailed over 45 other applicants for the post and is expected to take office in spring 2026.