Hubert Aiwanger found dead in Berlin hotel
The Bavarian deputy premier and leader of the Free Voters was 55.
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Hubert Aiwanger, deputy premier of the German state of Bavaria, was found dead in his hotel room in Berlin on Wednesday. Police and prosecutors have launched an investigation into the cause and circumstances of his death, but have not yet disclosed a cause.
Berlin police said that Aiwanger was found in the Berlin-Mitte district. According to police and the public prosecutor’s office, the investigation must establish the precise cause and circumstances of his death and possibly rule out criminal conduct by third parties. No further details have been disclosed.
According to Deutschlandfunk, Aiwanger was in Berlin for the opening of an office belonging to his party, the Free Voters. Deutschlandfunk reported that he had earlier withdrawn from a speech at the opening for health reasons. According to Deutschlandfunk, he later could not be reached and was found at his hotel. Police have provided no further information about his health or the circumstances of his death.
Aiwanger, 55, had led the Bavarian branch of the Free Voters since 2006. In 2008, he entered the Bavarian parliament with the party for the first time. Since 2018, the party has governed together with the Christian Democratic CSU of Minister-President Markus Söder. In the state, Aiwanger was Minister of Economic Affairs and deputy head of government.
His death therefore directly affects the Bavarian state government and the party that shares responsibility for governing there. The Free Voters are not represented in the German Bundestag, but do play a role in Bavaria as the CSU’s coalition partner. Nothing has yet been announced about Aiwanger’s successor as party leader, minister or deputy premier.
Söder called the death a tragedy, according to The Guardian. German police and prosecutors stress that the investigation is still under way. Until the cause and circumstances of death have been established, no conclusions can be drawn about a crime or any other cause.
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The key facts have been confirmed by Berlin police and independent news sources. Unknown elements, such as the cause of death and succession, have been presented as uncertain.
- confirmed Hubert Aiwanger was found dead in a hotel room in Berlin-Mitte on 4 November 2026. — This is stated in the joint statement by Berlin police and the public prosecutor’s office. source
- confirmed Police and prosecutors have launched an investigation into the cause and circumstances of his death. — The official statement refers to a Todesermittlungsverfahren for that purpose. source
- confirmed Aiwanger was Bavaria’s deputy premier and Minister of Economic Affairs. — This is confirmed by Deutschlandfunk and The Guardian. source
- confirmed Aiwanger had led the Bavarian Free Voters since 2006. — Deutschlandfunk mentions this party position and period. source
- confirmed The Free Voters have governed in Bavaria together with the CSU since 2018. — The Guardian describes the party as the junior partner in the Bavarian state government since 2018. source
Editor's note
It is certain that Aiwanger was found in a hotel in Berlin-Mitte on 4 November and that police and prosecutors have launched an investigation. The cause and circumstances of death, and any succession, remain unknown.Sources
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