Ministers from Bavaria take varying amounts of time to adjust to their roles - Some Bavarian ministers do not achieve success
Bavarian Ministers in the Federal Government Focus on Key Policies
In their first 100 days in office, the four Bavarian ministers in the German federal government have been working diligently on a range of critical policies. The focus has been on social welfare reform, migration and border control, foreign policy, and European cooperation.
Markus Söder, Minister-President of Bavaria and CSU leader, has been advocating for an end to welfare payments for Ukrainian refugees in Germany. Söder argues that Ukrainians receive immediate welfare without undergoing asylum proceedings, which he claims discourages employment despite their education. Amid economic pressures such as U.S. tariffs on European goods, Söder is demanding a reevaluation of this policy.
Alexander Dobrindt, Federal Minister of the Interior and a long-time CSU faction leader, has taken a firm stance on migration and border security. Dobrindt has extended intensified border checks beyond September and increased deportations of those without legal status. He also hosted and led the Zugspitze Summit on 18 July 2025, collaborating with officials from France, Poland, Austria, Denmark, and the Czech Republic to reduce illegal immigration through coordinated European efforts.
On foreign policy, Bavarian CSU politicians have expressed strong criticism of Chancellor Merz’s decision to halt arms exports to Israel during the Gaza conflict. They cite a lack of consultation within the conservative camp and concern over a potential shift in Germany's longstanding pro-Israel policy.
In internal security, Bavarian authorities under federal jurisdiction have cracked down on members of the far-right "Reichsbürger" extremist movement, arresting suspects accused of plotting to overthrow Germany’s constitutional order.
Alois Rainer, CSU leader Markus Söder’s appointee as Agriculture Minister, is trying to increase his presence in Bavaria. Rainer has implemented reliefs for farmers in documentation requirements for fertilizers but has not secured fresh funds from the federal budget for the conversion of stables. He has also postponed the launch of the state's livestock logo for supermarket meat to next year.
Rainer's tenure has not been without controversy. He initially made a quiet start but later called into question the position of the federal animal welfare commissioner, leading to criticism from animal welfare advocates when he did not extend Ariane Kari's contract.
Minister Dorothee Baer, responsible for research and technology policy, has announced new laws on the controversial fixed-term employment contracts at universities and on the use of private and public data for research. Baer has also proposed new laws on the use of private and public data for research.
Minister Wolfram Weimer, a fighter against anti-Semitism and an opponent of gender stars, has announced plans for a digital tax that would affect tech giants like Google and Meta. Weimer has not shied away from confrontations with international corporations.
These actions emphasize the Bavarian ministers’ focus on tightening social welfare eligibility, strengthening border security and European cooperation against illegal migration, asserting conservative foreign policy positions, and combating domestic extremism in their initial tenure at the federal level.
The Commission, in light of the Bavarian ministers' focus on key policies, has been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, as a policy-and-legislation matter of general news importance. The politicians' actions in their initial tenure at the federal level also include Minister Dorothee Baer's announcements on new laws related to research and technology policy, which touch upon the broader context of politics.
