Bavaria's Deputy Premier Hubert Aiwanger found dead in Berlin hotel

Hubert Aiwanger, the Deputy Premier and Economy Minister of Germany's Bavaria state, died on Wednesday evening in a hotel in Berlin. Berlin police and prosecutors have launched an investigation into the incident. According to a report by Bild, his death occurred at the Hotel Neuer Fritz located in central Berlin. At the time of the incident, several police and state government vehicles were parked outside the hotel.

55-year-old Aiwanger was scheduled to deliver a speech at the inauguration of the new Berlin office of his conservative 'Free Voters' party. However, he had informed colleagues that he was feeling unwell, due to which he could not attend the event and remained in his hotel room. According to Bild, hotel staff suspected he had an infection, while members of the CSU parliamentary group stated he was experiencing gastrointestinal issues. According to the Bild report, no external injuries were found on his body.

According to statements from Berlin police and prosecutors, the primary objective of the investigation is to determine the exact cause and circumstances of death, as well as to investigate whether any third party was involved. The Berlin Public Prosecutor's Office told Bild that there is currently no preliminary suspicion of a criminal act, although nothing can be ruled out yet.

Bavarian Premier Markus Söder, in a statement, described the incident as a terrible tragedy and said, "The sudden death of Hubert Aiwanger is a terrible tragedy. We are all in deep shock." He expressed his condolences to Aiwanger's family and children. Condolences on the passing of the 55-year-old leader were also expressed on the regional government's website.

The Free Voters party issued a statement on Thursday saying they have lost not only a dedicated politician but a person who left a lasting impact on the political landscape. The party added that they would continue their work in the spirit of Hubert Aiwanger.

According to Wikipedia and other details, Hubert Aiwanger joined the party in 2002 and became a member of the county council in Landshut in 2004. He had been leading the Free Voters party in Bavaria since 2006 and at the national level since 2010. In 2014, his party sent its first MEP, Ulrich Müller, to the European Parliament. Since 2018, his party has been in coalition with the conservative Christian Social Union (CSU) in Bavaria. Since 2014, he was in a relationship with state administrative official Tanya Schweiger, and they have two children.