Markus Söder

Markus Thomas Theodor Söder (born 5 January 1967) is a German politician from Bavaria, Germany. He has served as Minister-President of Bavaria since 2018, which means he is the leader of that state. Bavaria is one of the largest and most important states in Germany.

Söder also became the leader of the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU) in 2019. The CSU is a major political party in Bavaria and works closely with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) at the national level. As leader of both the state government and his party, Söder has been one of the most influential politicians in Germany in recent years.

He studied law and has had a long career in politics, focusing on issues important to Bavaria and Germany as a whole. His role allows him to shape policies on many topics that affect daily life for people living in the region.

Background, education and military service

Markus Söder was born in Nuremberg, Germany. After finishing school at the Dürer-Gymnasium, Nuremberg) in 1986, he completed his compulsory year of military service. He then studied law at the University of Erlangen–Nuremberg, earning a scholarship from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. After finishing his studies, he worked in research and later became a full-time politician.

Political career

Markus Söder has been a member of the Landtag, the state parliament of Bavaria, since 1994. From 2003 to 2007, he was secretary general of the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU), working closely with then Minister-President Edmund Stoiber. He was part of the team that negotiated a coalition agreement after the 2005 federal elections, helping to form Chancellor Angela Merkel's first cabinet.

Söder served in several important roles in Bavaria, including State Minister for Environment and Health. In 2018, he became Minister-President of Bavaria after Horst Seehofer left to become Federal Interior Minister. He was elected with strong support and later became the leader of the CSU in 2019. During the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, he was considered a possible candidate for Chancellor of Germany but ultimately supported another candidate from his party.

Role in national politics

Markus Söder has played important roles in helping choose Germany's president and in discussions about the country's government. He helped decide leaders in 1999, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2017, and 2022. He also took part in talks about health policy, money matters, and banking rules after big elections in 2009 and 2013.

He worked with many leaders, such as Ursula von der Leyen, Wolfgang Schäuble, and Olaf Scholz, to help shape important decisions for Germany.

Other activities (selection)

Markus Söder participates in various corporate and non-profit organizations. He serves on the supervisory boards of Munich Airport and Nuremberg Airport, and has been involved with institutions like Deutsches Museum, the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), and the Ifo Institute for Economic Research. His roles include membership on boards of trustees and advisory committees for several cultural and educational organizations.

Political positions

During the Greek government-debt crisis, Markus Söder called for Greece to leave the Eurozone. He also opposed expanding the eurozone to include countries like Bulgaria and Romania.

In domestic policy, Söder’s government required crosses to be displayed at public buildings as symbols of Bavarian cultural identity. He also supported same-sex marriage in Germany. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Söder was the first minister-president to announce a lockdown in his state.

Söder has made several foreign trips, meeting leaders from countries such as Ethiopia, Russia, Croatia, Israel, China, Italy, and India.

Recognition

In 2024, Markus Söder received an honorary doctorate from Tsinghua University. This recognition highlights his contributions and leadership in politics.

Personal life

Markus Söder has been married to Karin Baumüller since 1999. Karin is one of the owners of the Nuremberg-based Baumüller Group, a company that makes electric automation and drive systems. They have three children together, and Söder also has a daughter from an earlier relationship.

Söder is a member of the Protestant Church in Germany and says he is a believer. He is also known for wearing fun costumes during the carnival season, including characters like Shrek and Marilyn Monroe.