Overview

• Chancellor Friedrich Merz made his inaugural visit to the Lower Saxony State Chancellery on July 22, culminating his first regional tour since assuming office in May.
• He donned a red tie patterned with galloping horses to reference the white horse on Lower Saxony’s emblem and signal shared identity.
• Opening the visit, Merz called for a “new togetherness” to foster closer cooperation among federal, state and municipal authorities.
• Minister President Olaf Lies presented Merz with a horse sculpture as a guest gift to symbolize intergovernmental solidarity.
• The visit underscores Merz’s strategy of blending ceremonial symbolism with policy messaging to reinforce ties between Berlin and the Länder.