Sharp criticism of the Bavarian Deputy Prime Minister Hubert Aiwanger and at the same time full understanding of the decision to keep him in office: Charlotte Knobloch, President of the Jewish Community in Munich and Upper Bavaria, defends the decision of Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU). This was completely acceptable “for political reasons”, she said in the morning on Deutschlandfunk. Throwing Free Voters chief Aiwanger out of the cabinet would have had even worse consequences.
At the same time, Knobloch, one of the leading voices in Jewish life in Germany, renewed her criticism of Aiwanger. This reported to her. “I didn’t accept the apology.”
Regarding the anti-Semitic leaflet from Aiwanger’s school days, which was found in his pocket and for which he was also fined, but whose authorship he denies, Knobloch said it contained “terrible words”; this amounts to a “catastrophe” for someone who bears so much political responsibility. That is “normally unacceptable”. But you understand Söder very well, who announced on Sunday that he would stick with Aiwanger, said Knobloch. Bayern face a crucial choice. Aiwanger would have used a dismissal by Söder in the election campaign and he would have been successful with that. “That would have been the even greater catastrophe,” said Knobloch. “Aiwanger is Aiwanger. We will not raise him and we will not change him either.”
Söder publicly advised Aiwanger on Sunday to seek dialogue with the Jewish communities and generally show “remorse and humility”. The chairman of the CSU youth organization in Bavaria obviously does not see this as fulfilled. Since Aiwanger “still has to come to an inner realization and carry it to the outside,” said Christian Doleschal on Deutschlandfunk. “Hubert Aiwanger does not have a free ticket,” said the CSU MEP and state leader of the Junge Union, “he will always be under observation in the next few days.”
A new state parliament will be elected in Bavaria on October 8th. Prime Minister Söder’s declared goal is to continue the coalition with the Free Voters.