Hubert Aiwanger, Bavaria’s deputy premier and economy minister, was found dead in a hotel room in central Berlin on the evening of November 4. He was 55. Berlin police and prosecutors confirmed that his body was discovered in the hotel and said they had opened an investigation to establish the cause and circumstances of death and rule out possible third-party involvement. Authorities have not announced a final cause of death.
Aiwanger had travelled to Berlin for the planned opening of a capital-city office for his party, the Free Voters, where he was expected to speak. German media, citing people familiar with the schedule, reported that he had withdrawn from the event because he was feeling unwell and was later found in his room. Police and prosecutors have not released further details about the scene or confirmed any criminal conduct.
A prominent figure in Bavarian politics
Aiwanger had led the Free Voters in Bavaria since 2006 and held a national leadership role in the party from 2010. He entered the Bavarian state parliament in 2008. After the Free Voters joined a coalition government with the Christian Social Union in 2018, he became Bavaria’s deputy premier and economy minister.
The Free Voters became an influential force in Bavarian state politics but did not win enough support to enter Germany’s federal parliament. Aiwanger was the party’s most prominent figure in the state. His death could affect its leadership arrangements and political position within the Bavarian government. State Premier Markus Söder said he was deeply shocked and expressed condolences to Aiwanger’s family.
Authorities have not established the cause of death
The police and prosecutors’ statement said the investigation was intended to determine the cause and circumstances of death and rule out possible outside involvement. Some German media reported that Aiwanger had felt unwell and cancelled his appearance earlier that day, but authorities have not released a medical conclusion. The presence of criminal investigators as part of the inquiry does not establish that a crime occurred; the official statement did not accuse anyone of wrongdoing.
Aiwanger also faced national controversy in 2023 over a school leaflet concerning Nazi history. He denied writing the leaflet and apologized for the controversy it caused. That episode is part of his public political record, but no verified information links it to his death.
The confirmed information remains limited to Aiwanger’s identity, where and when he was found, and the fact that authorities have opened an investigation. No autopsy findings, cause of death or conclusion about possible third-party involvement have been announced. Reports about his health before the event should not be presented as a medical diagnosis, and the cause should not be speculated about before the investigation is complete.