Overview

• Stephan Weil, Ministerpräsident of Niedersachsen since 2013, has officially announced his resignation, citing personal and health reasons, effective May 2025.
• Olaf Lies, the current Wirtschaftsminister and long-time SPD figure, has been confirmed as Weil's successor for both the Ministerpräsident and SPD-Landesvorsitzender roles.
• The SPD plans to formalize Lies' nomination at a party convention on May 24, with the transition designed to strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 state elections.
• Lies has committed to maintaining the existing SPD-Green coalition and expressed his goal to continue this partnership beyond the next elections.
• The CDU has renewed its call for new elections, arguing that Weil's early resignation necessitates a fresh mandate, but the SPD and Greens have dismissed this demand.