Bavarians pay tribute to Hubert Aiwanger in condolence book

People across Bavaria are mourning the sudden death of Deputy Minister-President and Economics Minister Hubert Aiwanger, BR reports. Politicians and members of the public are leaving tributes in a condolence book and online.

White roses and flags at half-mast marked the condolence book at the Prinz-Carl-Palais in Munich. Minister-President Markus Söder wrote the first entry, followed by state parliament president Ilse Aigner, ministers and people close to Aiwanger.

Tobias Gotthardt of the Free Voters, a state secretary in the Economics Ministry who is temporarily leading it, said he had thanked Aiwanger for his friendship, commitment, passion and smile, and for being “a person with a big heart for our home”.

Digital Affairs Minister Fabian Mehring, also of the Free Voters, said the death still felt surreal. He had stood in for Aiwanger at an appointment in Berlin on Wednesday and later learned of his death. “We are all losing a friend,” he said.

The public can sign the condolence book at the palace until Monday, November 9. Books have also been made available in other towns, including Rosenheim and Essenbach in the Landshut district. An official memorial ceremony is expected next week.

Messages posted on BR24’s Instagram account recall Aiwanger as approachable and authentic, regardless of political differences. Tributes came from across society, including representatives of the Bavarian Association of the Deaf, Munich’s Ahmadiyya Muslim community, a midwife and people involved in farming and hospitality.

Politicians from different parties also expressed their grief online and called for respect, urging people to set aside political disagreements during the mourning.