German political leader is mysteriously found dead in hotel room on the eve of major speech to conservative supporters

Published: 04:33 EDT, 5 November 2026 | Updated: 05:11 EDT, 5 November 2026 A German conservative politician has been found dead at a Berlin hotel less than 24 hours before he was set to deliver a speech. Hubert Aiwanger, 55, the leader of the conservative Free Voters party, was found lifeless in his room at the Neuer Fritz hotel on Wednesday evening after people close to him had failed to make contact with him, German newspaper Bild reports. Aiwanger, Bavaria's deputy governor and the southern state's economy minister, had planned to deliver a speech on Wednesday afternoon at the opening of a Berlin office of his party, but pulled out of the event for health reasons, according to reports.An investigation into the cause of death was opened.Spokesperson for Berlin's public prosecutor's office Michael Petzold told German newspaper Bild that 'nothing can be ruled out at this point.'Aiwanger had been the party's leader in Bavaria since 2006 and its national leader since 2010.The combative politician with a strong regional accent and a populist touch made his party a serious rival to Bavaria's long-dominant Christian Social Union, which is part of the centre-right bloc that currently leads Germany. On his watch, it entered the state legislature in Munich in 2008. Conservative politican Hubert Aiwanger has been found dead at a Berlin hotel police vehicle is seen outside the Neuer Fritz hotel in Berlin, Germany, on November 4, 2026, where Aiwanger was found dead An investigation into the cause of death was openedTen years later, when the CSU lost its majority in the state legislature, it entered Bavaria's government as the junior coalition partner.Shortly before Bavaria's 2023 election, Aiwanger faced a furor that started with allegations - denied by the politician - that he was responsible for an antisemitic flyer when he was a high school student 35 years earlier. His party supports Ukraine in its war with Russia, and believes Kyiv should have its full, pre-war territory restored. The Free Voters emerged unscathed from the election, having gained support and remained part of the state government.Aiwanger's party has made only limited inroads outside Bavaria, and he wasn't able to lead it into the national parliament.Bavarian governor Markus Söder wrote on X that 'the sudden death of Hubert Aiwanger is an absolute tragedy.'Aiwanger is survived by his partner, Free Voters politician Tanja Schweiger, and two children.This is a developing story, more to follow.