The regional government of Bavaria, Germany, has ordered Christian crosses be placed at the entrance of all public buildings. The minister president of Bavaria, Markus Söder, said the crosses should not be seen as religious symbols but as a "clear avowal of our Bavarian identity and Christian values." Critics say it is a political move to appeal to voters ahead of the October elections. The rule comes into force in June and does not apply to municipal or federal government buildings in the primarily Roman Catholic region, where crosses are already compulsory in public schools and courtrooms.