Söder as Elvis: A look at his most bizarre carnival costumes!

Söder as Elvis: A look at his most bizarre carnival costumes!

Markus Söder, the Bavarian Prime Minister, will also be shown in an impressive costume this year for the “Fastnacht in Franconia”. In 2025 he appeared as Elvis Presley, in the style of the legendary star. Söder, who has shown presence at this event since 2009, has presented himself in different roles over the years and thus not only proves creativity, but also a very special perseverance. His wife, Karin Baumüller-Söder, often accompanies him in a partner look, which also enriches the colorful appearances. The event, sent live from the Main Franconia Halls in Veitshöchheim, has a length of over three hours and offers numerous highlights of the Franconian carnival. ruHR24 …

The costumes that Söder has chosen over the years not only reflect his preferences, but also social issues and Bavarian traditions. In 2019 and 2020 he waived a disguise because this time was considered his arrival phase as the prime minister. In the past, he wore the costumes of Homer Simpson, Marilyn Monroe and as Shrek. His appearance was particularly remarkable as a "Franken-Gandhi" in 2015, which was heavily criticized as black facing due to the use of brown facial color. Söder selbst entwirft viele seiner Kostüme, was seine künstlerische Freiheit demonstriert und die Relevanz von Humor in der politischen Kommunikation unterstreicht. Stern explains that ...

creativity in the political representation

With his disguises, Söder not only revitalized the Fastnacht, but also pointed out the social challenges. In 2023 he appeared as a "tribal elder", an expression that should offer orientation after corona pandemic. The fun and the satire, which are in these appearances, are part of a greater tradition in Germany, where artists often offer humorous, sometimes critical perspectives on political landscape. This type of artistic freedom is important for the cultural identity and the political debate in the country. Germany explains that ...

The continuation of this tradition during Fastnacht and by personalities like Söder clearly shows that art and humor can also play a role in politics. These appearances are not only a distraction, but also medium for reflection. In a country in which satirical texts and political art take up an important space, Söder positions himself with his creative costumes at the interface of entertainment and political seriousness.