2023-08-29 20:15:00
An end to the leaflet affair about the Bavarian Vice Prime Minister and head of the Free Voters, Hubert Aiwanger, should not be in sight – at least until the state elections on October 8th: Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) leaves Aiwanger in office, but increases the pressure on his deputy and the Free Voters as coalition partners to clarify the matter “quickly and comprehensively”.
That should be done by answering a catalog of 25 questions, said Söder at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, to which no journalists’ questions were allowed. “It is important to wipe the slate clean and ensure clarity so that you can continue,” said Söder. Before the open questions are resolved, Aiwanger’s dismissal would be “excessive”. Söder had convened a meeting of the coalition committee for Tuesday morning, and Aiwanger had promised to answer the 25 questions. “But that’s not an acquittal or a license,” said Söder. “Nothing more can be added now.” The damage to Bavaria’s reputation is already high. At the same time, however, Söder committed to working with the Free Voters: This has proven itself and he wants it to continue.
The “Süddeutsche Zeitung” reported on a leaflet that appeared more than 30 years ago at the school where the 52-year-old leader of the Free Voters was in eleventh grade. The pamphlet was riddled with anti-Semitic content. Copies were then found in the school bag of 17-year-old Hubert Aiwanger, who denied having written the leaflet (the OÖN reported). In a personal statement on Saturday, Aiwanger’s brother described himself as the author.
Before the election, there will probably be a special session of the Bavarian state parliament, which the SPD, Greens and FDP will apply for. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) also called for the affair to be clarified quickly.
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Allegations of anti-Semitism overshadow election campaign in Bavaria
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