According to initial findings, Aiwanger died through no fault of his own

One day after the sudden death of Bavaria's Economics Minister and Free Voters leader Hubert Aiwanger, the preliminary results of the autopsy are available. As the Berlin Public Prosecutor's Office announced, the 55-year-old died through no fault of his own. There was no evidence of this. However, further forensic medical examinations are still pending. The investigation was ongoing.

Aiwanger was found lifeless in a Berlin hotel room on Wednesday. The 55-year-old was in the city to open the Free Voters' new capital office, but was absent from the event.

Dismay across party lines

Aiwanger's death caused consternation across all party lines. "I'm really shocked and also hurt," said Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder, who has led the coalition of CSU and Free Voters since 2018. Aiwanger's death tears a deep hole in Bavarian politics and in the hearts of many people. Söder announced that he wanted to continue his party's common policy with the Free Voters.

A book of condolence will be available in the Prinz-Carl-Palais in Munich from Friday. Söder ordered mourning flags to be displayed at all government buildings.

Free voters need new federal and state chairmen

The Free Voters, whose most prominent face was Aiwanger, now need a new state and federal chairman. Aiwanger was re-elected as state leader just a year ago. He actually wanted to be re-confirmed as federal chairman the weekend after next.

A federal party conference planned for November 14th has been postponed. The party and parliamentary group want to discuss how to proceed by the weekend.

State Secretary initially heads the Ministry of Economic Affairs

State Secretary Tobias Gotthardt will take over the official duties in the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs - this is regulated in the state government's rules of procedure. It is still unclear whether and when the Free Voters will fill or refill their positions. Gotthardt will immediately return to Bavaria from a delegation trip to Singapore, the Ministry of Economic Affairs announced.

Formally, a new minister must be appointed by Söder and the state parliament must agree.

Long-time chairman of the Free Voters

Aiwanger has been state chairman of the Free Voters since 2006 and also federal chairman since 2010. In 2008 he and his party entered the Bavarian state parliament for the first time and became its parliamentary group leader. Ten years later, in 2018, the CSU and Free Voters forged a coalition. Aiwanger became economics minister and deputy prime minister.