Highlights of Rose Monday Carnival parade in Germany

The annual "Rosenmontag" parade, or Rose Monday Carnival, kicked off on March 4, 2019 in Dusseldorf, Germany. Satirical floats poke fun at politicians, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May.

A float depicting Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May. /VCG Photo

A float depicting leaders of Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) Andrea Nahles and her deputy Olaf Scholz on a sinking ship. /VCG Photo 

Figures depicting Jens Spahn, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and Friedrich Merz of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU). /VCG Photo

A float featuring an effigy of Jaroslaw Kaczynski, leader of the Law and Justice party in Poland. /VCG Photo

A figure of Greta Thunberg, a Swedish political activist. /VCG Photo

A figure depicting German Chancellor Angela Merkel as part of Banksy's partially shredded artwork. /VCG Photo

A float symbolizing the Volkswagen-Diesel scandal. /VCG Photo

More than 30 music ensembles and 5,000 participants join the parade, March 4, 2019. /VCG Photo

Elaborately decorated floats address some major cultural and political issues. One float depicted Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin tearing up a nuclear arms treaty.

Also, May is portrayed with a long nose impaling a man wearing a Union Jack hat and carrying briefcases marked “economy” as Britainis due to leave the European Union in a few weeks.

Among around 300 carnival events in Dusseldorf, the Rose Monday parade is considered the high point, noted for its political satire. More than 30 music ensembles and 5,000 participants joined the procession through the city.

(With input from AP)

(Cover: A float showing U.S President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin tearing up a nuclear arms treaty during the Rose Monday Carnival parade in Dusseldorf, Germany. /VCG Photo )