Hubert Aiwanger, leader of the Free Voters and Bavaria’s economics minister, has died at 55, prompting shock across the state’s political spectrum. He was found dead in a hotel room in Berlin on Wednesday. Prosecutors have opened an investigation to determine the cause and circumstances of his death and rule out outside involvement.

The Free Voters now need to appoint new state and federal leaders. Aiwanger was re-elected as state chairman last year and had planned to seek another term as federal chairman at the party conference scheduled for November 14. The party said it would continue its work in line with his principles, but it has not confirmed whether the conference will go ahead as planned.

In Bavaria’s economics ministry, State Secretary Tobias Gotthardt of the Free Voters will take over Aiwanger’s duties on an interim basis under the state government’s rules. The ministry said Gotthardt would return to Bavaria from a delegation trip to Singapore. The timing and nature of any permanent changes to the party’s government posts remain undecided.

Aiwanger’s death drew condolences from political allies and opponents. Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder called it a tragedy and said his thoughts were with Aiwanger’s family and children. State parliament president Ilse Aigner described his death as a major loss for the legislature and Bavarian politics. Baden-Württemberg Minister-President Cem Özdemir and AfD co-leader Alice Weidel also expressed their sadness.

The Free Voters said Aiwanger had helped turn a party rooted in local politics into a major force in Bavaria. Parliamentary group leader Florian Streibl said the state would be different without him. The Bavarian business association also paid tribute, citing his advocacy for businesses across the state.

Aiwanger had led the Free Voters in Bavaria since 2006 and nationally since 2010. He entered the Bavarian state parliament in 2008 and became the party’s parliamentary leader. In 2018, the Free Voters formed a coalition with the CSU for the first time, and Aiwanger became economics minister and deputy minister-president. The party later recorded 15.8 percent in the 2023 state election under his leadership, though it did not enter the Bundestag.

Sources: Handelsblatt.