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, leading the government of one of Germany’s most important states.

Söder is also the leader of the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU), a major political party in the region, a role he has held since 2019. His work focuses on issues important to Bavaria and Germany, such as education, economy, and public safety.

As a prominent figure in German politics, Söder plays a key role in shaping policies and decisions that affect many people’s daily lives. His leadership and ideas continue to be influential in both regional and national discussions.

Background, education and military service

Markus Söder was born in Nuremberg, Germany. After finishing school in 1986, he completed his compulsory year of military service. He then studied law at the University of Erlangen–Nuremberg. In 1998, he earned a doctorate in law. From 1992 to 1994, he worked with Bayerischer Rundfunk, a public television and radio network, before becoming a full-time politician.

Political career

Markus Söder has been a member of the Landtag, the state parliament of Bavaria, since 1994. He worked closely with then Minister-President and party chairman Edmund Stoiber and was part of teams negotiating with other parties for government agreements.

Söder became Minister-President of Bavaria in 2018 after Horst Seehofer moved to a federal position. He was elected with strong support from lawmakers. In 2019, he became the leader of the Christian Social Union in Bavaria. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was considered a possible candidate to become Chancellor of Germany but supported another candidate in the end. He continues to lead the CSU and works on important issues like fighting pandemics, protecting the environment, and keeping Germany strong.

Role in national politics

Markus Söder helped choose the President of Germany many times, starting in 1999 and going through 2022. He worked with other leaders to discuss important topics like health care, money, and banking after big elections in 2009 and 2013. He worked with people like Ursula von der Leyen, Wolfgang Schäuble, and Olaf Scholz to make decisions for Germany.

Other activities (selection)

Markus Söder holds several important positions in both companies and non-profit groups. In companies, he is the chairman of the supervisory board for Munich Airport and Nuremberg Airport, and he has served on boards for other groups like KfW and BayernLB.

He also works with many non-profit organizations. He is part of the boards for the Bavarian Research Foundation, the Deutsches Museum, the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), the Staatstheater Nürnberg, the Ifo Institute for Economic Research, and football club 1. FC Nürnberg. He also helped with the Munich International Film Festival during some years.

Political positions

Markus Söder has shared many ideas about how Germany and Europe should work. During a big money problem in Greece, he thought Greece should leave a special group of countries that share one type of money, called the Eurozone.

At home in Bavaria, Söder supported a plan to publish a special version of a famous old book by Adolf Hitler. This was to help people understand its dangerous ideas better. He also decided that public buildings in Bavaria should show crosses, not as religious signs, but as part of the state’s culture. During the time when many people from other countries came to Europe looking for safety, Söder had different ideas from Germany’s leader at the time. He believed that refugees should go back home when they could.

When a serious health problem called COVID-19 spread in Germany, Söder was the first leader in his state to close things down to keep people safe. This made many people like him more. He also talked about the importance of people getting a special medical treatment to stay healthy.

Recognition

In 2024, Markus Söder received an honorary doctorate from Tsinghua University. This award recognizes his contributions and achievements in his role as a leader in Bavaria, Germany.

Personal life

Markus Söder married Karin Baumüller in 1999. They have three children together, and Söder also has a daughter from a previous relationship. He is a member of the Protestant Church in Germany and often wears fun costumes during carnival, such as Shrek and Marilyn Monroe.