German conservative party leader found dead in Berlin hotel

BERLIN (AP) — Hubert Aiwanger, a conservative party leader who became a pillar of Bavarian politics and sought to expand his influence across Germany, was found dead in a Berlin hotel.

The body of Aiwanger, deputy governor of Bavaria and economy minister of the southern state, was found Wednesday evening in his hotel room in the center of the capital, Berlin police and prosecutors said. Prosecutors said an autopsy conducted Thursday produced no evidence that anyone else was involved in his death.

German news agency dpa reported that Aiwanger, 55, had planned to give a speech Wednesday afternoon at the opening of the Berlin office of his party, the Free Voters, but withdrew from the event for health reasons.

Aiwanger had been the party’s leader in Bavaria since 2006 and its national leader since 2010.

The combative politician with a strong regional accent and populist touch has made his party a serious rival to Bavaria’s long-dominant Christian Social Union (CSU), part of the center-right bloc that currently rules Germany.

Under his leadership, the Free Voters entered the Munich state parliament in 2008. A decade later, when the CSU lost its majority in the state parliament, it entered the Bavarian government as a junior coalition partner.

Shortly before the 2023 Bavarian elections, Aiwanger faced a furore that began with allegations – denied by the politician – that he was responsible for an anti-Semitic flyer when he was a high school student, 35 years earlier. Free voters emerged from the election unscathed, gained support, and remained members of the state government.

Aiwanger’s party made only limited inroads outside of Bavaria and failed to gain entry into the national parliament.

Bavarian Governor Markus Söder wrote on X that “the sudden death of Hubert Aiwanger is an absolute tragedy.”

Aiwanger is survived by his partner, Free Voters politician Tanja Schweiger, and two children.

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By the associated press