The deputy head of the Bavarian state government, economy minister and leader of the Free Voters, Hubert Aiwanger, 55, was found dead in a hotel in Berlin.

The head of the Bavarian government, Markus Söder, wrote on X on Wednesday evening that Aiwanger’s sudden death is an absolute tragedy and that everyone is deeply shocked. The investigation was assigned to a homicide unit of the Berlin Criminal Police Office together with prosecutors. The Bavarian parliament confirmed the death and said the cause had not yet been established.