Overview

• Lower Saxony’s CDU secured no federal ministerial posts in the new government despite high expectations.
• State leader Sebastian Lechner denies any directional dispute with the federal party and vows to exert “visible influence” in Berlin.
• The party holds three parliamentary state secretary posts—Silvia Breher in agriculture, Mareike Wulf in education and Gitta Connemann in economy—to maintain policy access.
• Lechner invokes Ursula von der Leyen’s role as EU Commission President to underscore Lower Saxony’s prominence within the CDU.
• He acknowledges disagreements on energy policy and presses for greater federal support for the state’s strategic ports.