Söder wants to continue the coalition in Aiwanger's spirit - the body will be autopsied in Berlin

Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) was deeply saddened by the death of his deputy Hubert Aiwanger. “I am really shocked and also hurt,” said the CSU leader at a press conference on Thursday in Nuremberg. At first he couldn't believe the news.

Söder praised Aiwanger as a “real man,” a “real Bavarian,” a good economics minister and a warm-hearted person. Many mourned him, not just among the Free Voters. “Me too personally,” said the Prime Minister.

Despite differing opinions, both worked closely together. There was a fundamental political agreement. “We have made a civil policy,” emphasized Söder. He wants to continue the collaboration in Aiwanger's spirit.

“It will take a long time before we can process this shock,” said Söder. "We will not forget him. May he rest in peace." Söder ordered mourning flags to be displayed at state buildings this Thursday and on the day of Aiwanger's funeral.

Aiwanger was found dead on Wednesday in a hotel room on Friedrichstrasse in Berlin-Mitte. During the day he did not attend the opening of a Free Voters office in the capital due to health problems. He was supposed to give a speech there as federal chairman.

After Aiwanger could no longer be reached, he was found in his hotel room early in the evening. Söder said he learned of the death late in the evening from Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann.

The autopsy is scheduled to take place in Berlin on Thursday, a spokesman for the public prosecutor's office told the dpa news agency. It is unclear whether the result will be available on the same day.

The police and public prosecutor's office are conducting a so-called death investigation to determine the cause of death. The public prosecutor emphasized that this was not a criminal investigation. She did not want to comment in more detail on possible findings, citing the ongoing investigations. The police did not assume any external influence on Wednesday night, as WELT learned from police circles.

After the discovery, a murder squad from the Berlin State Criminal Police Office, forensics and forensic medicine were deployed at the hotel. The homicide squad was called in because of the importance of the case and to rule out possible foul play.