Söder visits Helgoland: A Bavarian impression on the North Sea!

Söder visits Helgoland: A Bavarian impression on the North Sea!

A special guest is expected on Heligoland on August 26, 2025: Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) is making his way to the North Sea island. He was invited by Thorsten Pollmann, the mayor of Helgoland, and the tourism director Katharina Schlicht, who hope that Söder's visit will improve the island's value and provide an insight into its nature and tourist opportunities. It is not difficult to look back on last year, when Söder made the headlines for his controversial statements about Helgoland and Sylt, when he declared them “Bavarian”.

Söder's planned visit is no coincidence. It comes in the context of his controversial statements about the state financial equalization, in which there are repeated calls for reforms, especially from Bavaria. In 2024, Bavaria was the largest contributor to this compensation, while Schleswig-Holstein is considered the financially weakest federal state. This topic plays an important role in the political debates in both countries.

A field of tension between annexation and finance

Söder had already spoken about possible annexation plans for the two islands in February, which led to a lot of confusion and skepticism. In Bavaria, Söder is often perceived as the one who emphasizes the role of the financial donor country without actually supporting the wealth tax. The discussion about state financial equalization revolves around the goal of closing the financial gap between the states. In 2023, around 18.3 billion euros were redistributed between the federal states to meet different financial needs, with Bavaria often being the focus here.

Söder will travel from Hamburg to Helgoland with the catamaran “Halunder Jet” and has already planned a full program: from an official reception in the town hall to a tour around the island and a Börte boat trip to the dune. The crowning conclusion of the day is a “festive Helgoland evening with a cultural program” in the Nordseehalle. This visit marks Söder's second stay on the island, which he describes as one of the two places every German should see. In addition, Söder also praised the culinary opportunities that Heligoland offers.

Political reactions to the visit

Daniel Günther (CDU), the Prime Minister of Schleswig-Holstein, is unlikely to take part in the visit. However, he appears calm and reminds us that he was also on Heligoland last year on his own. Günther wishes Söder all the best for his visit, while in the background the industry continues to ponder the influence of Söder's statements on regional political negotiations.

It remains to be seen whether Söder's appearance on Helgoland can actually bring about a positive change or whether the associated political tensions will continue to exist. The discussion about state financial equalization shows how important it is to regulate the financial relationships between the federal states in a future-oriented manner. There is currently discussion not only about the distribution of the money, but also about a fair and sustainable system for all federal states. What will Söder probably take with him from his visit – a better understanding of the people and the island, or could he further settle into a role as a guest country here?

In times when financial pressure is growing on some federal states, it is important to enter into dialogue and find common solutions - not just for Bavaria and Schleswig-Holstein, but for the entire Federal Republic.