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Markus Söder
Current politicianGermany

Markus Söder

Minister-President of Bavaria (since March 2018) and chair of the CSU (since January 2019) · Christian Social Union in Bavaria

Markus Söder is the Minister-President of Bavaria and chair of the Christian Social Union (CSU), the Bavarian sister party of the CDU and a partner in the federal coalition.

Positions as of 28 October 2026
Profile on 12 axes11 of 12 documented
ECONOMYSTATESOCIETYWORLDOwnershipMarketsWelfareAuthoritySecurityStructureMoralityReligionTechnologyCultureTradeForeign

Positions are taken from public statements, voting records and platforms as of 28 October 2026, and may have changed since. Report an inaccuracy.

Where they stand

The 12 axes, axis by axis

  1. 01Ownership+35
    PublicPrivate
  2. 02Markets+30
    PlannedFree
  3. 03Welfare+20
    SharedSelf-reliant

    Has said Germany spends too much on the wrong social spending, while the CSU has championed pension credits for mothers; scored moderately toward self-reliance.

  4. 04Authority-30
    DemocraticStrong leader
  5. 05Security+55
    LibertyOrder
  6. 06Structure-50
    LocalCentral

    Defends state autonomy and has repeatedly called for reform of the fiscal equalisation system between the states, most recently in 2026, naming Berlin as its main recipient; scored toward local and regional power.

  7. 07Morality+35
    ProgressiveTraditional
  8. 08Religion+40
    SecularReligious

    His government ordered crosses displayed at the entrance of Bavarian state buildings in 2018, which he described as a symbol of Bavarian cultural identity; scored moderately toward religious.

  9. 09Technology-15
    EmbraceCaution

    Called in 2025 for restarting closed nuclear plants, then said in 2026 that a return was too late and backed small modular reactors and fusion research instead; scored slightly toward embrace.

  10. 10Culture+50
    MulticulturalNational identity
  11. 11TradeNo clear record
    GlobalProtected
  12. 12Foreign policy+15
    CooperationStrength

One axis has no clear record: no documented statement, vote or platform places Markus Söder there, so matching leaves it out.

Who is Markus Söder?

Markus Söder was born in Nuremberg in 1967, studied law and worked as an editor at Bayerischer Rundfunk before entering the Bavarian parliament in 1994. He served as CSU general secretary and then as Bavarian minister for federal and European affairs, environment and finance. He became Minister-President in March 2018 and CSU chair in January 2019. In 2021 he sought the joint CDU/CSU candidacy for Chancellor, which went to Armin Laschet. After the October 2023 state election he was re-elected Minister-President in a coalition with the Free Voters.

Previously: Bavarian Minister of Finance (2011-2018) · Bavarian Minister of the Environment and Health (2008-2011) · Bavarian Minister for Federal and European Affairs (2007-2008) · CSU General Secretary (2003-2007)

Documented positions

  • Opposed plans in October 2026 to socialise large housing companies in Berlin and called for a firewall against cooperation with Die Linke.Source: zdfheute.de
  • Called in October 2026 for an overhaul of the fiscal equalisation system between the states, naming Berlin as its main recipient.Source: zdfheute.de
  • Said in September 2026 that Germany spends too much on the wrong social spending and urged then labour minister Bärbel Bas to act.Source: zdfheute.de
  • Rejects cooperation with the AfD, warning in July 2026 that it would split the Union and that the party is on a more radical course.Source: zdfheute.de
  • His government ordered crosses to be hung at the entrances of Bavarian state buildings from June 2018.Source: thetablet.co.uk
  • Said in March 2026 that a return to the closed nuclear plants was too late, and backed small modular reactors and up to 400 million euros for a fusion demonstration reactor.Source: zdfheute.de
  • Called in March 2024 for Germany to supply Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine.Source: t-online.de
  • Announced in 2024 that Bavaria would apply the new federal cannabis law restrictively, with strict fines.Source: lto.de

Record

As Minister-President, Söder made Bavaria the first state to impose statewide restrictions on leaving home in March 2020, and in November 2021 called for a general Covid vaccine mandate. Supporters cite Bavaria's economic strength and his role in the federal coalition; critics cite changes of position, such as on nuclear power.

In 2026 he ruled out toppling Chancellor Merz while urging changes in the government, backed Merz in a dispute over a cabinet post, and proposed Bavarian parliament president Ilse Aigner as a candidate for Federal President. After the September 2026 state elections he said the federal government had to pick up the pace.

In their words

“Wir brauchen keine Kremlknechte im Kanzleramt.”
Speech at the Junge Union Deutschlandtag in Bonn, 18 October 2026, referring to the AfD ("We do not need Kremlin servants in the Chancellery")

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Markus Söder: questions

What party is Markus Söder in?

Söder chairs the Christian Social Union (CSU), which runs only in Bavaria and forms a joint parliamentary group with the CDU in the Bundestag.

What are Markus Söder's main policy positions?

He favours reform of fiscal transfers between the states, strict policing and drug laws, new nuclear technology, a visible role for Christian symbols in Bavarian public life and no cooperation with either the AfD or Die Linke.

Sources

12axes-test.com is not affiliated with any politician or party. A profile summarises documented positions; it is not an endorsement.

Portrait: 2025-05-05 Unterzeichnung des Koalitionsvertrages der 21. Wahlperiode des Bundestages by Sandro Halank-001.jpg by Sandro Halank, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and converted to grayscale by 12axes-test.com.