Act of mourning in Munich: Great sympathy as Aiwanger says goodbye

More than 1,000 guests said goodbye to Hubert Aiwanger in Munich's Frauenkirche. The long-time economics minister, deputy Bavarian prime minister and Free Voters leader died unexpectedly ten days ago. The 55-year-old politician was found lifeless in a hotel room in Berlin.

At the beginning of a requiem, Cardinal Reinhard Marx said that Aiwanger's death had "hit like a shock." Marx praised Aiwanger as an “extraordinary personality”. His life, which ended abruptly, was full of life - "a big life".

Last honor with cannon shots

The requiem led by Marx was to be followed by an act of mourning in the cathedral, at which, among others, Prime Minister Markus Söder, State Parliament President Ilse Aigner (both CSU) and Free Voters faction leader Florian Streibl would speak.

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.

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

"A man of the people"

The Bavarian Free Voters General Secretary Hans Martin Grötsch said on Friday that it was in Aiwanger's spirit that participation in the funeral ceremonies was possible even without a personal invitation. "Hubert preferred to be with the citizens; he was a man of the people." That's why it goes without saying that even those who weren't invited can say goodbye.

The funeral will take place at a later date in his hometown of Lower Bavaria.