Coffin in white and blue, cannon shots as a farewell - 1000 mourners say goodbye to Aiwanger

Ten days after the sudden death of Hubert Aiwanger, Bavaria said goodbye to the long-time economics minister in Munich's Frauenkirche. More than 1,000 mourners - many of them in traditional costumes - paid their last respects.

The coffin stands next to a large portrait of the former Free Voters leader, surrounded by six riot police, wrapped in the Bavarian colors of white and blue.

The Pontifical Requiem takes place under the direction of Cardinal Reinhard Marx. This will be followed by an act of mourning at which, among others, Prime Minister Markus Söder, State Parliament President Ilse Aigner (both CSU) and Free Voters parliamentary group leader Florian Streibl will speak. In the front row among the guests present were Aiwanger's partner Tanja Schweiger and his family.

The vocal ensemble of the Munich Cathedral Music, the cathedral orchestra and the soprano Katja Stuber organized the service with cathedral music director Lucia Hilz. Excerpts from the Requiem in D minor by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart were heard. The organ was played by cathedral cantor Benedikt Celler.

The Free Voters leader died completely unexpectedly in Berlin on Wednesday last week at the age of 55. He was found lifeless in a hotel room in Berlin. His body had only returned to Bavaria a few days ago. The funeral will take place at a later date in his hometown of Lower Bavaria.

Acts of mourning like those for Aiwanger are rare in Bavaria and only for special personalities. Most recently, the former state parliament presidents Barbara Stamm and Alois Glück (both CSU) were honored with a state ceremony for their life's achievements.

In addition to a large number of guests from federal and state politics and society, ordinary citizens also have access to the Frauenkirche - according to the Archbishop's Ordinariate, there is space for up to 1,100 people in total. Many members of Aiwanger's party wanted to travel to the Bavarian capital by bus.

After leaving the church, mountain riflemen, hunting horn blowers and gunners also wanted to pay their last respects to Aiwanger - including with several gunshots.