Overview

• Across roughly 19 hours on the island, Markus Söder followed an official program and joined a shanty choir on stage, later sharing the performance on social media.
• Helgoland’s leadership said a February joke about the Länderfinanzausgleich prompted the invitation, and Söder again spotlighted Bavaria’s role as a major contributor.
• He emphasized climate adaptation with a focus on coastal protection, drawing parallels to similar risks in the Alps.
• Söder promoted tax relief for the hospitality sector and said he is seeking cross‑state support in the Bundesrat, including from Schleswig‑Holstein.
• Schleswig‑Holstein’s premier Daniel Günther expressed surprise at the unilateral visit, as Söder praised the island and said he would return.