Bavarian Deputy Premier Hubert Aiwanger Found Dead in Berlin Hotel
Hubert Aiwanger, Bavaria's deputy premier and economy minister, was found dead in a Berlin hotel room at age 55, prompting a police investigation into the cause.
German politics was shaken on Wednesday following the sudden death of Hubert Aiwanger, the deputy premier and economy minister of the state of Bavaria, who was found dead in a Berlin hotel room at the age of 55.
Berlin police reported that Aiwanger's body was discovered in his hotel room in the central Mitte district. Police and prosecutors launched a joint investigation to determine the exact cause of death and whether any foul play was involved, though authorities have not yet specified if suspicious findings were present.
According to reports from German media, Aiwanger had traveled to Berlin to attend the opening ceremony of his party's new office but missed the event after feeling unwell. Police later found his body in the hotel room.
Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder expressed deep shock over the passing of his coalition partner, stating that it was an absolute tragedy and extending condolences to Aiwanger's family and children. Aiwanger had led the Free Voters party in Bavaria since 2006, bringing them into the state government in 2018. Throughout his career, he was also involved in past controversies, including a 2023 scandal regarding an antisemitic leaflet from his youth, which he denied writing while acknowledging he possessed copies.
