Lower Saxony’s outgoing Prime Minister Stephan Weil wants to be remembered as “fairly normal.”

Stephan Weil has a decades-long connection to football: In the late 1960s, the current Minister-President of Lower Saxony worked as a ball boy for Hannover 96, and the SPD member still holds a regular seat in the west stand at his beloved club. So how could one describe Weil, who is leaving office today, in football terms? Certainly as "the normal one."

Just as coach Jürgen Klopp once gave himself this title to distinguish himself from "the special one," José Mourinho, Weil answers the question of how he wants to be remembered: "Oh, I'd like to be remembered as pretty normal. I didn't feel like something special, but rather as a citizen with a special task." As early as 2022, he told "Die Zeit" that Klopp's self-description was "very appealing" to him.

With this down-to-earth approach, Weil has held on to the helm of the state government for twelve years – sometimes with the Greens, sometimes with the CDU, but always as a kind of counter-proposal to the sometimes shrill Markus Söder in Bavaria.

"I believe there's a great need for democratic politicians who don't portray themselves as if they were something special," Weil says of his political style. "At least in Northern Germany, politicians would be well advised to make it clear that the cause is more important to them than themselves."

Weil's withdrawal is a turning point for the powerful Lower Saxony SPD state association. Federal party leader Lars Klingbeil, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, and the SPD parliamentary group leader in the Bundestag, Matthias Miersch, also have their roots in Lower Saxony.

Weil's successor as head of government is set to be the current Minister of Economic Affairs, Olaf Lies. This is no surprise. Lies has been touted as a secret heir to the throne for years. The "taz" newspaper even dubbed the 58-year-old "Prince Charles of the Leine."

Lies' ambitions have been known since 2012. Back then, as SPD state chairman, he competed with the then mayor of Hanover, Weil, for the top candidacy in the 2013 election – and narrowly lost. Nevertheless, the relationship between the former rivals is considered good. Lies has served continuously as a minister under Weil for twelve years.

Compared to the two Social Democrats, Lies appears more articulate and less bland than Weil. However, a change of course is not to be expected. Lies intends to continue the red-green coalition – albeit without a Ministry for European Affairs in the future.

Weil, 66, primarily justified his retirement with his age. He also admitted in early April that he was suffering from sleep problems and that his energy levels were waning. "I'm completely at peace with the decision," Weil said.

But rumors of a change of leadership have been circulating for so long that the CDU suspects a tactical maneuver for the 2027 state election. "In essence, you never had any desire to begin this legislative period, and you have no desire to truly see it through to the end now," CDU leader Sebastian Lechner accused Weil even before the official announcement of his resignation.

Weil denies this. However, he admits: After stating early on that he would not run again in 2027, the country needs someone who is willing to take on long-term responsibility. "That's why my personal considerations coincided very well with the political ones."

There was no agreement with Lies for an early transfer. "What we had was, on the one hand, his knowledge that I thought very highly of him, and my knowledge that he was ready. And that was all it took."

The Greens largely support the change to Lies. The AfD, however, criticizes that "changing the leadership as long as the party membership remains the same" is not enough to bring about change.

Twelve years as Minister-President – ​​wasn't it tempting you to move to Berlin at some point, Mr. Weil? "Not really," the SPD politician replies succinctly. In 2019, when the SPD was looking for a new leader, he was "pressured." There had also been opportunities for a change at other times. "If I had signaled after that that I wanted to enter federal politics, I would probably have had the opportunity."

But: "I don't think my political style would necessarily have been successful in Berlin. Somehow, I wouldn't have really fit into the rules of federal politics." There is a pronounced inward focus in Berlin. "But Germany is much larger than Berlin-Mitte," says Weil.

He doesn't have a master plan for the time ahead. He's looking forward to less pressure. Next week, Weil plans to take part in his first sailing trip off the Croatian coast.

He's also resolved to do one thing: As a former head of government, he doesn't want to constantly interfere. "The role of the angry, old, white man doesn't suit me. I definitely don't want to be that."