Hubert Aiwanger, the deputy governor of Bavaria and leader of the Free Voters party, was discovered dead in his hotel room in central Berlin on the evening of November 4, 2026. Local police and prosecutors confirmed the news, which has sent shockwaves through the political landscape of Bavaria and beyond.

An autopsy conducted the following day revealed no signs of foul play, according to statements from Berlin prosecutors. The 55-year-old politician had been scheduled to speak at the opening of his party's new office in Berlin but withdrew from the event earlier that day, citing health concerns.

Aiwanger, who led the Free Voters party since 2006 and served as its national leader from 2010, played a significant role in Bavarian politics. Under his leadership, the party entered the Bavarian state legislature in 2008, and in 2018, it became a junior coalition partner in the state government after the Christian Social Union lost its outright majority.

Known for his direct speaking style and strong regional accent, Aiwanger positioned the Free Voters as a credible alternative to the CSU, which is part of the current governing coalition at the federal level in Germany. Despite his influence in Bavaria, the party struggled to gain traction outside the state and did not secure representation in the national parliament during his tenure.

In the lead-up to the 2023 state election, Aiwanger faced significant scrutiny due to allegations of past antisemitic behavior linked to a flyer he was accused of distributing during his time as a student. He denied the allegations, and the controversy did not appear to negatively impact the Free Voters, who gained support in the election and retained their position in the Bavarian government.

Bavarian governor Markus Söder expressed his condolences on social media, describing Aiwanger's sudden death as an "absolute tragedy." The late politician is survived by his partner, Tanja Schweiger, who is also a member of the Free Voters party, and their two children. His unexpected passing raises questions about the future direction of the Free Voters and the political landscape in Bavaria as a whole.