Hubert Aiwanger Dies; Bavaria Plans State Funeral

Overview

• Hubert Aiwanger, Bavaria’s economics minister and deputy premier, was found dead in a Berlin hotel and his death on November 4, 2026 has been confirmed by the Bavarian ministry.
• Berlin prosecutors and the Kriminalpolizei are handling the case while a detailed gerichtsmedizinische examination is awaited; an initial autopsy reported no indications of third‑party involvement.
• The Bavarian government, in agreement with Aiwanger’s family, scheduled a state funeral in Munich for Saturday, November 14, 2026, beginning with a Pontifikalrequiem at 10:30 and followed by a Trauerstaatsakt at 12:00 that will be broadcast.
• Aiwanger’s partner Tanja Schweiger posted public thanks for the outpouring of support and described him as warm and intelligent, and the family has requested a subsequent private burial in his home town of Rottenburg an der Laaber.
• Aiwanger rose from a farming background to lead the Freie Wähler in Bavaria since 2006 and at the federal level since 2010, led the party into a 2018 coalition with the CSU, and his death creates immediate questions about party leadership and the Freie Wähler’s future role in Bavarian politics.