Allegations of anti-Semitism: Government crisis threatens in Bavaria

2023-08-26 11:41:00

“These allegations simply have to be clarified now. They have to be cleared up completely,” said Söder on Saturday on the sidelines of an appointment in Augsburg.

The “Süddeutsche Zeitung” had reported on the leaflet. Through a spokesman, the Free Voters boss told the “SZ” that he “didn’t produce anything like that” and would take legal action against this “smear campaign” if it were published.

Söder said of the leaflet reported by “SZ”: “There are serious allegations in the room. This leaflet is inhuman, downright disgusting.”

Aiwanger did not respond to a request from the German Press Agency by Saturday afternoon. A spokesman for the Free Voters said Aiwanger and the Free Voters are not commenting on “this process” for the time being.

Didn’t show up for the appointment

Aiwanger was originally supposed to come to the date at a folk festival in Augsburg. But he didn’t show up. CSU boss Söder said to his coalition partner: “That’s why the central demand is now also on Hubert Aiwanger to simply clarify things and explain them publicly.”

State elections in October

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.

Demands for consequences came immediately from almost all directions in politics. The SPD parliamentary group requested a special session of the Bavarian state parliament, which is on summer break. SPD faction leader Florian von Brunn said, according to a statement: “The leaflet is right-wing extremism of the lowest drawer, which denigrates the millions of victims of the Holocaust and the Nazi dictatorship in the worst possible way.”

According to a statement, the Greens parliamentary group leaders Katharina Schulze and Ludwig Hartmann said: “If the allegations are true, then Markus Söder must dismiss Hubert Aiwanger.” For the FDP, parliamentary group leader Martin Hagen demanded: “Hubert Aiwanger must explain himself personally and clear up the allegations.”