Politics

Bavarian deputy premier Hubert Aiwanger found dead in Berlin hotel room

Freie Wähler leader was 55 and had cancelled speech citing illness, homicide squad investigates while party postpones congress

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Der bayerische Politiker Hubert Aiwanger ist tot in seinem Hotelzimmer in Berlin-Mitte gefunden worden. Das bestätigt die Berliner Staatsanwaltschaft. Ein Todesermittlungsverfahren ist eingeleitet.© DPA Der bayerische Politiker Hubert Aiwanger ist tot in seinem Hotelzimmer in Berlin-Mitte gefunden worden. Das bestätigt die Berliner Staatsanwaltschaft. Ein Todesermittlungsverfahren ist eingeleitet.© DPA abendblatt.de
Hubert Aiwanger ist im Alter von 55 Jahren verstorben.© FUNKE Foto Services | Stefan Arend Hubert Aiwanger ist im Alter von 55 Jahren verstorben.© FUNKE Foto Services | Stefan Arend abendblatt.de
Hubert Aiwanger (l.) und Markus Söder (Archivbild).© dpa | Peter Kneffel Hubert Aiwanger (l.) und Markus Söder (Archivbild).© dpa | Peter Kneffel abendblatt.de
Hubert Aiwanger (r), Bundesvorsitzender der Partei Freie Wähler und sein Stellvertreter Joachim Streit.© Harald Tittel/dpa | Harald Tittel Hubert Aiwanger (r), Bundesvorsitzender der Partei Freie Wähler und sein Stellvertreter Joachim Streit.© Harald Tittel/dpa | Harald Tittel abendblatt.de
Bayerns Ministerpräsident Markus Söder (CSU) gibt im Nürnberger Dienstsitz des bayerischen Heimatministeriums ein Statement zum Tod von Hubert Aiwanger.© Daniel Karmann/dpa | Daniel Karmann Bayerns Ministerpräsident Markus Söder (CSU) gibt im Nürnberger Dienstsitz des bayerischen Heimatministeriums ein Statement zum Tod von Hubert Aiwanger.© Daniel Karmann/dpa | Daniel Karmann abendblatt.de

Hubert Aiwanger, Bavaria's deputy minister-president, state economics minister and federal chairman of the Freie Wähler, was found dead in a hotel room in Berlin-Mitte on Wednesday evening. He was 55. Berlin prosecutors have opened a death investigation, and the case has been assigned to the homicide squad.

Aiwanger was found lifeless in his room at around 19:00, according to the Berlin prosecutor's office. Spokesman Michael Petzold declined to confirm media reports of a natural cause of death. Homicide squad, criminal police and prosecutors secured traces into the night and questioned witnesses; the body was not removed until late in the night. Petzold said he could not say who had discovered the body, citing investigative tactics. The police stated that the aim is to establish the concrete cause and course of the death and to rule out third-party involvement. An autopsy was scheduled for the following day.

Aiwanger had cancelled a speech set for Wednesday afternoon at the opening of the Freie Wähler's Berlin office, citing gastrointestinal problems, and was to be represented by another speaker. According to the Abendblatt's editorial information, no obvious signs of external interference were visible in the hotel room; the politician's blue jacket still hung on a hanger by the entrance.

The Freie Wähler postponed their federal party congress, which had been planned for 14 November in Geiselwind; a new date is expected in 2027. Deputy federal chairman Joachim Streit, an MEP, told SWR that the party's identity is inseparable from the man: "The Freie Wähler were associated with Hubert Aiwanger. We were the Aiwanger party. We were the Bavaria party." Most members come from Bavaria, and the decision on future leadership will be made there — though the succession only becomes "a real topic" after the burial, according to Streit.

Bavarian minister-president Markus Söder, for whom Aiwanger served as deputy, said he was genuinely shocked and wants to continue the governing coalition with the Freie Wähler — "in his spirit, in our spirit". He called Aiwanger a formative figure of Bavarian politics: "a strong Bavarian, a good economics minister, but also a warm-hearted person".

The congress planned for Geiselwind will not take place. Who leads the Freie Wähler next will, on Streit's account, not even be discussed until after the funeral.