Hubert Aiwanger, the leader of the conservative Free Voters party and Bavaria's deputy governor, has been found dead in a Berlin hotel room. Police and prosecutors confirmed the discovery on Wednesday evening and have opened an investigation into the cause of death.
Aiwanger, 55, had been scheduled to give a speech on Wednesday afternoon at the opening of a Berlin office for his party but withdrew due to health reasons. A spokesperson for Berlin's public prosecutor's office stated that "nothing can be ruled out at this point."
Aiwanger had led the Free Voters in Bavaria since 2006 and nationally since 2010. The party experienced significant growth under his leadership, entering the Bavarian state legislature in 2008 and becoming a junior coalition partner in the state government in 2018. Despite facing controversy shortly before the 2023 state election over allegations of antisemitic writing from his high school days, the party saw increased support.
Bavarian governor Markus Söder described Aiwanger's death as an "absolute tragedy." Aiwanger is survived by his partner, fellow Free Voters politician Tanja Schweiger, and their two children.