Lower Saxony is a German state (Land) situated in northwestern Germany. It is the second-largest state by land area, with 47,624 km2 (18,388 sq mi), and fourth-largest in population among the 16 Länder federated as the Federal Republic of Germany. In rural areas, Northern Low Saxon and Saterland Frisian are still spoken, in declining numbers.
Christian Wilhelm Walter Wulff is a retired German politician and lawyer who served as President of Germany from 2010 to 2012. A member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), he previously served as minister-president of the state of Lower Saxony from 2003 to 2010. He was elected to the presidency in the 30 June 2010 presidential election, defeating opposition candidate Joachim Gauck and taking office immediately, although he was not sworn in until 2 July. With the age of 51, he became Germany's youngest president.
David James McAllister is a German politician who has been a member of the European Parliament since 2014. He is a member of the Christian Democratic Union, part of the European People's Party. He is the current Vice President of the European People's Party and he is also Vice Chairman of the International Democrat Union. He was appointed Chair of the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee in February 2017.
The Cabinet Wulff I was the state government of the German state of Lower Saxony from 4 March 2003 until 26 February 2008. The Cabinet was headed by Minister President Christian Wulff and was formed by the Christian Democratic Union and the Free Democratic Party. On 4 March 2003 Wulff was elected and sworn in as Minister President by the Landtag of Lower Saxony, after Wulff's winning of the 2003 Lower Saxony state election.
The Cabinet Wulff II was the state government of the German state of Lower Saxony from 26 February 2008 until 1 July 2010. The Cabinet was headed by Minister President Christian Wulff and was formed by the Christian Democratic Union and the Free Democratic Party. On 26 February 2008 Wulff was re-elected and sworn in as Minister President by the Landtag of Lower Saxony, after Wulff's winning of the 2008 Lower Saxony state election.
Stefan Birkner is a German politician for the Free Democratic Party (FDP).
Johanna Wanka is a German politician of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) who served as Federal Minister for Education and Research in the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel from 2013 until 2018. From 2000 to 2009, she served as Minister for Science, Research and Culture of the state of Brandenburg, then from 2010 to 2013 she served as Minister of Science and Culture of the state of Lower Saxony, in the Cabinet McAllister.
The Minister President of Lower Saxony, also referred to as Premier or Prime Minister, is the head of government of the German state of Lower Saxony. The position was created in 1946, when the states of Brunswick, Oldenburg, Schaumburg-Lippe and the State of Hanover were merged to form the state of Lower Saxony. The current Minister President is Stephan Weil, heading a coalition government between the Social Democrats and the CDU. Weil succeeded David McAllister following the 2013 state election.
The Cabinet Schröder I was the state government of the German state of Lower Saxony from 21 June 1990 until 20 June 1994. The Cabinet was headed by Minister President Gerhard Schröder and was formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance '90/The Greens, after Schröder's winning of the 1990 Lower Saxony state election. On 21 June 1990 Schröder was elected and sworn in as Minister President by the Landtag of Lower Saxony. It was succeeded by Schröder's second and third cabinets.
The Cabinet Schröder II was the state government of the German state of Lower Saxony from 20 June 1994 until 30 March 1998. The Cabinet was headed by Minister President Gerhard Schröder and was formed by the Social Democratic Party, after Schröder's winning of the 1994 Lower Saxony state election. On 20 June 1994 Schröder was re-elected and sworn in as Minister President by the Landtag of Lower Saxony. It was succeeded by Schröder's third and last cabinet.
The Cabinet Schröder III was the state government of the German state of Lower Saxony from 30 March 1998 until 27 October 1998. The Cabinet was headed by Minister President Gerhard Schröder and was formed by the Social Democratic Party, after Schröder's winning of the 1998 Lower Saxony state election. On 30 March 1998 Schröder was re-elected and sworn in as Minister President by the Landtag of Lower Saxony.
Aygül Özkan is a German politician of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). She has been a member of the CDU since 2004, and was Minister of Social Affairs, Women, Families, Health and Integration in the state of Lower Saxony, in the Second Cabinet Wulff and the Cabinet McAllister between 2010 and 2013. She was the first ever German politician of Turkish descent and a Muslim serving as minister.
Olaf Glaeseker is a German political consultant, journalist, publicist, and a close confidant of former President Christian Wulff. He served as the President's press secretary from 30 June 2010 to 22 December 2011. He came under criticism for alleged corruption, and resigned a few weeks before the President himself resigned.
Stephan Weil is a German politician and the leader of the Social Democratic Party in Lower Saxony. On 20 January 2013, the SPD and the Green party won the 2013 Lower Saxony state election by one seat. On 19 February 2013, he was elected Minister President of Lower Saxony with the votes of SPD and Alliance '90/The Greens. From 1 November 2013 until 31 October 2014 he was President of the Bundesrat and ex officio deputy to the President of Germany. In November 2017, he was again elected Minister President with the votes of SPD and CDU.
The Cabinet Weil I was the state government of the German state of Lower Saxony from 19 February 2013 until 22 November 2017. The Cabinet was headed by Minister President Stephan Weil and was formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance '90/The Greens, after Weil's winning of the 2013 Lower Saxony state election. On 19 February 2013, Weil was elected and sworn in as Minister President by the Landtag of Lower Saxony. It was succeeded by Weils's second cabinet.
Bernd Althusmann is a German politician of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Since November 2017, he has been serving as Deputy Minister-President and State Minister for Economic Affairs in the government of Minister-President Stephan Weil.
The Cabinet Weil I is the state government of the German state of Lower Saxony since 22 November 2017. The Cabinet was headed again by Minister President Stephan Weil and was formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Christian Democratic Union, a Grand Coalition government., after Weil's winning of the 2017 Lower Saxony state election. On 22 November 2017, Weil was re-elected and sworn in as Minister President by the Landtag of Lower Saxony.
The Minister president (Ministerpräsident) is the head of state and government in thirteen of Germany's sixteen states.
Maria Franziska Flachsbarth is a German veterinarian and politician of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) who served as Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development in the fourth coalition government of Chancellor Angela Merkel from 2018 to 2021. Since 2011, she has also served as the president of the German Catholic Women's Association.
Birgit Honé is a German politician of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) who is serving as Minister of Federal and European Affairs and Regional Development in the state government of Minister-President Stephan Weil of Lower Saxony. Since 2017 she has been a member of the German Bundesrat.
