Death of Hubert Aiwanger at Berlin hotel
Hubert Aiwanger, the 55-year-old deputy premier and minister of Economic Affairs for the German state of Bavaria, was found dead in his hotel room in Berlin on November 4. De Telegraaf reported that the politician was discovered after he failed to respond to contact. He had been scheduled to deliver a speech that Wednesday afternoon at the opening of a new office for his party, Freie Wähler (Free Voters), but had excused himself earlier due to health issues. His death was confirmed by the German press agency DPA based on high-level sources within the Bavarian government.
Authorities have not disclosed a cause of death. An autopsy has been ordered to provide further clarity. In a statement, the Berlin police and the public prosecutor’s office noted, The goal of the investigation is to determine the precise cause of death and the surrounding circumstances, and to rule out any third-party involvement.
Political trajectory of the Freie Wähler leader
He joined the Freie Wähler in 2002 and successfully led the party into the Bavarian state parliament in 2008, where he initially served as faction leader. NOS noted that his influence grew significantly in 2018 when his party entered a governing coalition with the CSU, resulting in his appointment as deputy premier and minister of Economic Affairs. Aiwanger served as both the state and national leader of the party. While he achieved significant electoral success in Bavaria, including recent gains in local elections this spring, he was unsuccessful in his attempts to lead the party into the Bundestag.
His tenure was not without controversy. In 2023, Süddeutsche Zeitung reported that Aiwanger had authored and distributed an antisemitic pamphlet during his time in high school. His brother, Helmut Aiwanger, later claimed responsibility for the pamphlet. Despite allegations from former classmates regarding his past behavior, the scandal did not derail his political standing; his party secured its best-ever election result in Bavaria shortly thereafter.
Public reaction to the sudden loss
Markus Söder, the Bavarian minister-president and CSU party leader, described the event as an absolute tragedy
and noted that he was deeply shocked.
Ilse Aigner, president of the Bavarian state parliament, characterized the passing as a great loss for the Bavarian state parliament and for the entire politics in Bavaria,
according to NOS.
Aiwanger stayed in Berlin hotel before death
Reports from Bild indicate that Aiwanger was staying at the Neuer Fritz hotel in central Berlin at the time of his death. He is survived by his wife, politician Tanja Schweiger, and their two sons.
Questions regarding the circumstances of the passing
What is known about the cause of death?
As of now, the cause of death remains unknown. Berlin police and the public prosecutor’s office are conducting an investigation, and an autopsy is being performed to establish the facts and exclude third-party involvement.
Why was Aiwanger in Berlin?
Aiwanger had traveled to the German capital to attend the opening of a new party office for the Freie Wähler. He was scheduled to give a speech at the event but canceled his appearance after reporting that he was not feeling well. He remained in his hotel where his body was later discovered.
What happens to the coalition in Bavaria?
The Freie Wähler has been in a coalition with the conservative CSU—the sister party of Merz’s CDU—since 2018.
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