On November 4th local time, 55-year-old German politician Hubert Aiwanger was found dead in a hotel in Berlin. German police have launched an investigation into the cause of his death.
Ewing is the leader of the Free Voters Party in Germany. Since 2018, he has served as the Deputy State Governor and Minister of Economics in Bavaria, enjoying significant influence in German local politics.
It is reported that Aiveng went to Berlin that day, originally planning to attend the opening event of the Free Voters Party’s office in the capital. However, due to physical discomfort, he missed the event and stayed at a hotel to rest. After that, he could not be reached, and was eventually found dead in a room at a hotel in the Mitte district of Berlin.
Berlin police and prosecutors subsequently issued a joint statement stating that they have initiated investigation procedures to determine the exact cause and circumstances of Aiveng’s death, and to rule out the possibility of third-party involvement. At this time, the official cause of death has not been announced.
Ewing's sudden death shocked German politics. Bavarian Governor Marcus Zeder said that it was a "terrible tragedy," and everyone was deeply shaken.
Ewing has been active in the politics of Bavaria for a long time. Since 2006, he led the Bavarian branch of the Free Voters Party. In 2010, he became the national chairman of the party. Under his leadership, the Free Voters Party entered the Bavarian state parliament in 2008 and became part of the state government in 2018, governing jointly with the Christian Social Union, which has long dominated politics in Bavaria. However, the party has never managed to enter the German Bundestag.
Eiwanger's political career has also been involved in controversy. In 2023, German media reported that a leaflet related to the Nazis and Auschwitz concentration camp, with anti-Semitic content, was associated with his student days when he was 17 years old. Eiwanger denied being the author of the leaflet and apologized for some improper behavior he committed in his youth, but refused to resign as a result.
