On Wednesday evening, November 4, Hubert Aiwanger, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of the Federal State of Bavaria, as well as the leader of the Free Voters (Freie Wähler) party, was found lifeless in a Berlin hotel. The politician was 55 years old. This was reported by Deutsche Welle, Tagesspiegel, and Bild, cited by international media. Aiwanger's death was confirmed by Bavarian government circles and the Berlin prosecutor's office.
Cancelled Speech and Disappearance
According to media reports, on the morning of November 4, Aiwanger was scheduled to deliver a speech at the opening of his Free Voters party office. However, he cancelled his appearance, citing feeling unwell, after which he stopped getting in touch. It is known that the politician was staying in a room at the Neuer Fritz hotel in central Berlin. After he stopped responding, his room was checked and Aiwanger was found dead.
Investigation and Preliminary Hypothesis
Following the discovery of the body, Berlin police and the prosecutor's office launched an investigation, the purpose of which is stated to be «establishing the specific cause and circumstances of death and ruling out potential foul play.» According to preliminary information, no signs of third-party interference were found, and Berlin authorities lean toward natural causes of death. The final cause of death has not been named at the time of publication and will be determined following the investigation.
Who Was Hubert Aiwanger
Hubert Aiwanger had served as Bavaria's Minister of Economy since 2018. Simultaneously, he acted as Deputy Premier of the federal state and led the Freie Wähler party, which is part of the coalition supporting the Bavarian government. His death came as a surprise to German political circles, given the politician's relatively young age and active public engagement.
Politicians' Reactions
Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder commented on the incident on the social network X, calling Aiwanger's sudden death «a true tragedy.» «We are all deeply shocked. Right now, our thoughts are primarily with his family and children,» he wrote. Official statements from other parties and federal structures, as well as information regarding potential funeral arrangements, had not been published at the time of publication.
Investigative actions in Berlin continue. The prosecutor's office intends to make final conclusions regarding the cause and circumstances of Hubert Aiwanger's death after the completion of the expertise and questioning of witnesses.
