Carnival masquerade

Politics is a real circus of fools today

The pirates are on the loose: Provincial Councillor Stefan Hermann and his team(Bild: Büro Landesrat Hermann)

On Shrove Tuesday, even the Styrian politicians were not fooled. They came to work dressed as pirates or Disney princesses. Many political offices even had a group motto.

Even in politics, it's okay to have fun - at least on Shrove Tuesday. Whether in the state parlors or in the offices of the City of Graz: many politicians and their staff came to work in masquerade costume.

Pirates and Disney princesses took to the streets - here is a brief overview:

Governor Mario Kunasek as a crusader(Bild: Büro Kunasek)

SPÖ leader Max Lercher and Michaela Grubesa(Bild: privat)

Graz Mayor Elke Kahr and her team also have a lot of fun at carnival.(Bild: Büro Kahr)

Provincial Councillor Siemone Schmiedtbauer as Disney princess "Merida" - her entire office is dedicated to the "Disney" theme this year.(Bild: Büro Landesrätin Schmiedtbauer)

Deputy Mayor of Graz Judith Schwentner as a circus director in her office canteen(Bild: Büro Schwentner)

Graz City Councillor Kurt Hohensinner and his office went all out with the motto "Disco, Disco".(Bild: Büro Stadtrat Hohensinner)

NEOS members of parliament Bettina Schoeller as Fiona from "Shrek" and Robert Reif as the circus director(Bild: NEOS)

Graz city councillor Günter Riegler and his fellow players also see the Graz soccer stadium as offside during carnival.(Bild: Büro Riegler)

Provincial Councillor Karlheinz Kornhäusl was first on the road as a doughnut messenger - here with Mayor Hannes Zweytick at the primary and secondary school in Ehrenhausen.(Bild: Büro Kornhäusl)

In the office, Kornhäusl and his team then turned into tank crackers - after all, they are fighting for every cent for culture.(Bild: Büro Kornhäusl)

The office of Graz City Councillor Claudia Schönbacher (KFG) uses the carnival to make a political statement - they go as apprentices to promote this form of education.(Bild: Büro Schönbacher )

Deputy Governor Manuela Khom as a hippie (center) with her government colleagues Schmiedtbauer and Kornhäusl(Bild: Land Steiermark)

From Wednesday onwards, politics should get serious again - hopefully!

Apart from that, Styria from Bad Aussee to Bad Radkersburg and from Eibiswald to Mariazell was firmly in the hands of fools on Tuesday. The biggest parade in the country took place in Graz - albeit with a large police presence due to the attacks and rampages of recent days and weeks.