The 55-year-old politician was visiting the capital to attend the opening of a party office, but he missed the gathering after reporting that he felt unwell. Police subsequently discovered his body in his hotel room on Wednesday, prompting an official investigation by prosecutors. Aiwanger had served as Bavaria's economy minister and deputy state premier since his party joined the regional governing coalition in 2018. Bavarian State Premier Markus Soeder described the event as an absolute tragedy and offered his condolences to Aiwanger's family.
Key points
The Free Voters party has lost the leader who directed its Bavarian branch since 2006 and…: The Free Voters party has lost the leader who directed its Bavarian branch since 2006 and brought it into government.
Bavarian State Premier Markus Soeder must navigate the sudden loss of his coalition gover…: Bavarian State Premier Markus Soeder must navigate the sudden loss of his coalition government's deputy leader and economy minister.
Aiwanger maintained his prominent political career despite weathering a severe 2023 natio…: Aiwanger maintained his prominent political career despite weathering a severe 2023 national controversy concerning an antisemitic school pamphlet.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
A prominent German politician was found dead in a Berlin hotel on Wednesday, police said, adding they had launched an investigation.
The cause of death of Hubert Aiwanger, 55, who was deputy leader of southern Bavaria state, was not immediately clear.
Police said in a statement he was “found dead in his hotel room” in the Berlin-Mitte district.
Police and prosecutors had opened a probe to “determine the specific cause and circumstances of death”, the statement said.
“The aim of the inquest is to establish the specific cause of death and the circumstances surrounding it, and to rule out any possible third-party culpability,” police and prosecutors said in a statement. They gave no further details.
Aiwanger, head of the populist Free Voters party and also Bavarian economy minister, was in Berlin to attend the opening of an office for his party but missed the event as he was feeling unwell, the Bild daily reported.
His body was later discovered by police in the hotel, it said.
The Bavarian state premier, Markus Soeder, described Aiwanger’s death as an “absolute tragedy”.
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