Free voters
Söder appoints Aiwanger to the special coalition committee
Markus Söder (CSU, r), Prime Minister of Bavaria, at the State Chancellery in Munich with Hubert Aiwanger (Free Voters), Economics Minister, at the press conference after the cabinet meeting. photo
© Stefan Puchner/dpa
The scandal surrounding an old anti-Semitic leaflet weighs heavily on Hubert Aiwanger, but also on the CSU and the coalition. Now Markus Söder wants open questions answered. What’s happening on Tuesday?
Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) gives his deputy’s previous statements Hubert Aiwanger is not satisfied with an anti-Semitic leaflet from his school days: In a special meeting of the coalition committee this Tuesday morning, the Free Voters boss is to answer open questions and make a personal statement. Söder had “ordered” the free voters to the meeting, said Head of State Florian Herrmann (CSU) on Monday of the German Press Agency in Munich.
“We have taken note of the statement. But many questions remain unanswered. Only Hubert Aiwanger can answer them personally,” said Herrmann. “We expect this to happen promptly. The allegations are too serious for a deputy prime minister to only comment in writing and leave crucial questions unanswered.” Aiwanger had to “declare himself personally and comprehensively” beyond the written statement. “It’s about Bavaria’s reputation,” warned Söder’s close confidante.
Was the brother the author?
Aiwanger (52) had in writing on Saturday evening denied having written an anti-Semitic leaflet as a minor when he was at school in the 1980s, which the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” (SZ) had reported on. “I did not write the paper in question and I consider the content to be disgusting and inhuman,” Aiwanger said in a statement.
At the same time, however, he admitted that “one or a few copies” were found in his school bag. Shortly thereafter, Aiwanger’s brother, who is one year older, admitted to having written the pamphlet: “I was really angry at the time because I had failed school.”
Söder, who urged Aiwanger to clarify things quickly on Saturday, has not commented on his statements since then.
The state parliament opposition had therefore massively increased the pressure on Söder. Greens, SPD and FDP demanded an immediate statement from him. Depending on this, they may want to decide on a possible request for a special session in the state parliament. The SPD was the first to advocate a special session, and considers Aiwanger’s resignation or dismissal to be inevitable.
A new state parliament will be elected in Bavaria on October 8th. The CSU had always stated that it wanted to continue the coalition with the Free Voters after the election. All surveys left almost no doubt that this will also be possible – with the free voters were at 11 to 14 percent. The CSU has governed the Free State since the 2018 election together with the Free Voters.