Real home grown

Krause is 35 years old and has lived under an SPD mayor his entire life. Born in Munich, he grew up with two siblings in Moosach and Untermenzing, went to school in the Bavarian capital and studied physics at the Technical University. He completed this with a Master of Science. So it’s a real homegrown product of the city.

He has been active with the Green Party for more than a decade and began his career in 2012 as a spokesman for the Green Youth in Munich. In 2014 he was elected to the city council and in 2022 he became parliamentary group leader. In 2023 he became Dieter Reiter’s deputy as second mayor of the city.

Met partners while dancing

The new mayor got engaged to his partner, the doctor Sebastian Müller, in 2024. The two live together in the Giesing district. According to their own statements, they met at a dance class. But the new mayor also appreciates the nearby Alps and enjoys hiking, climbing and skiing.

Krause calls Oktoberfest “the world’s largest open drug scene”

Krause has probably only received national attention once before the local elections: Shortly after taking office as Second Mayor of Munich in 2023 He described Oktoberfest as the “world’s largest open drug scene.” Krause wanted to promote cannabis legalization – the harsh reactions of the Oktoberfest hosts brought him fame beyond Munich. Otherwise, the qualified physicist did not allow himself any provocations.

Krause confidently counters critics who think he is still too young for the office of mayor and likes to refer to Hans-Jochen Vogel. The SPD politician was 34 when he was elected to the executive chair in Munich City Hall in 1960. When Reiter was out for two months after an operation last year, Krause took over his duties – quietly and without any mishaps.

He also doesn’t shy away from conflicts with his own party

Krause also doesn’t shy away from conflicts with his own party colleagues – when he publicly spoke out in favor of Munich’s Olympic bid in August 2024, he offended many Greens. At the same time, he also relied on support from his party colleague Robert Habeck in the election campaign – with this, Krause also took a certain risk in Bavaria, because the CSU has been mobilizing loudly against Habeck for years.

With material from dpa, AFP