Latest news with #StephanWeil
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Commemorations held in Bergen-Bergen, Flossenbürg concentration camps
Commemorative events were held in the former Nazi concentration camps in Bergen-Belsen and Flossenbürg on Sunday to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the camps. Politicians and contemporary witnesses recalled the atrocities. Lower Saxony's Minister President Stephan Weil made an appeal for "Never again is now" at the event in the Lüneburg Heath. Never again should the dignity and lives of people in Germany be trampled underfoot, never again should human rights be disregarded, never again should arbitrariness take the place of justice, said Weil. "That is the lesson to be learnt from the murder of so many millions of people, that is the mission of the commemoration and remembrance of these events." The Bergen-Belsen concentration camp was liberated by the British army on April 15, 1945. Around 53,000 people were liberated, but for many, help came too late. Among them was Anne Frank, whose diary brought home to many the sufferings of the Jews in occupied Europe. She is buried in one of the mass graves at the camp. In total, around 52,000 people died in the camp and immediately after liberation, in addition to almost 20,000 deaths in the neighbouring prisoner of war camp. In his speech, Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor addressed the survivors directly. "With your strength, with your courage and with your lives, you are a triumph over inhumanity. We are indebted to you, the survivors. And to the murdered." Former German president Christian Wulff and President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Josef Schuster, were among the guests.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Premier of northern German state of Lower Saxony to step down
The premier of the northern German state of Lower Saxony is set to step down in May, dpa learned on Tuesday. Stephan Weil, from the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), is expected to announce his resignation on Tuesday after leading the state since 2013. The 66-year-old, a former mayor of the state's capital, Hanover, is the third-longest serving premier in Germany. The move comes two years before Lower Saxony holds state elections in 2027, with the SPD facing a battle to retain control in one of its traditional power bases. The party regularly tops 30% of the vote in the state, despite falling to third place on 16.4% in February's national parliamentary election. Weil is set to be replaced as premier and SPD chief in Lower Saxony by the state's economy minister, Olaf Lies. The 57-year-old Lies was narrowly defeated by Weil in a leadership race more than a decade ago, but will now have the opportunity to lead an administration in Hanover. Politicians from Lower Saxony dominate the upper echelons of the SPD, including Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and party co-leader Lars Klingbeil, who is leading negotiations with the conservative bloc over the formation of the next federal government in Berlin. Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz was also born in the state before becoming mayor of the city-state of Hamburg.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Germany's Lower Saxony state premier to stand down in May, several media report
BERLIN (Reuters) - Veteran German Social Democrat (SPD) Stephan Weil will stand down as premier of the state of Lower Saxony in May after 12 years in office, several German media, including local broadcaster NDR, reported on Tuesday. The state of Lower Saxony owns 11.8% of shares in Volkswagen and has 20% voting rights. The state has a big influence on the company due to a special law which effectively gives it a blocking minority. The plans come as the SPD are in talks with Friedrich Merz's conservatives to form a coalition on the national level. Elections in the state are due in autumn 2027. A spokesperson for Weil, 66 years old, had no immediate comment.
Reuters
01-04-2025
- Automotive
- Reuters
Germany's Lower Saxony state premier to stand down in May, several media report
BERLIN, April 1 (Reuters) - Veteran German Social Democrat (SPD) Stephan Weil will stand down as premier of the state of Lower Saxony in May after 12 years in office, several German media, including local broadcaster NDR, reported on Tuesday. The state of Lower Saxony owns 11.8% of shares in Volkswagen and has 20% voting rights. The state has a big influence on the company due to a special law which effectively gives it a blocking minority. The plans come as the SPD are in talks with Friedrich Merz's conservatives to form a coalition on the national level. Elections in the state are due in autumn 2027. A spokesperson for Weil, 66 years old, had no immediate comment.
