Enlarge image
Prime Minister Söder (CSU) dressed as Otto von Bismarck with his wife, Karin Baumüller-Söder: "In difficult times, Bavaria must be the last Prussians"
Photo: Daniel Löb / dpa
Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) dressed up as former Reich Chancellor Otto von Bismarck for this year's Franconian carnival. "Strauß always said that in difficult times, Bavaria must be the last Prussians," said Söder, referring to the long-time former CSU Prime Minister Franz-Josef Strauß.
Bismarck was also a strong, assertive statesman. "He pursued an alliance policy that ultimately meant that Germany was not isolated," said Söder.
The CSU leader is known for his passion for disguises: he has already dressed up as Marilyn Monroe and as the magician Gandalf from “Lord of the Rings”. Söder has also dressed up as a bright green Shrek.
has/dpa