Bayern’s Deputy Minister President Aiwanger has apologized after facing criticism for an antisemitic flyer. He also accused his political opponents of launching a campaign against him.
The leader of the Bavarian Free Voters and Deputy Minister President, Hubert Aiwanger, portrayed himself as the target of a political campaign in response to allegations of an antisemitic flyer. “I have the impression that they want to politically and personally make me finished,” said Aiwanger at the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs in Munich. His statement, which did not allow for questions, lasted less than two minutes.
Aiwanger spoke about an “abhorrent pamphlet” that was found in his school bag 36 years ago. He said that statements had been made that gave the impression he “had taken a misanthropic path” as a teenager. He admitted to making mistakes at that time and deeply regretting if he had hurt anyone’s feelings. He explicitly apologized to “all victims of the Nazi regime, their surviving relatives, and everyone involved in the valuable work of remembrance.”
However, Aiwanger stated that it was “unacceptable” for these shortcomings to be used in a political campaign against him and his party. He said, “A negative image of me has been created in the past few days. That is not me, that is not Hubert Aiwanger.”
In recent days, there has been ongoing criticism of Bavaria’s Deputy Minister President. Leading politicians from the Union also demanded complete clarification today. CDU leader Friedrich Merz described it as a “very distasteful story.” He said, “I would not have believed that 17 or 18-year-old students were still writing something like this in the 1980s. This really needs to be fully clarified.”
Alexander Dobrindt, the leader of the CSU parliamentary group, stated that Aiwanger had remained very tight-lipped so far. He believed this was not appropriate for the current situation. When asked if he currently did not demand Aiwanger’s resignation, Dobrindt said, “The focus now is on creating clarity, and then we can discuss what comes next.” He emphasized that it was part of a fair process to establish clarity and, above all, for Aiwanger to explain himself.
Dirk Wiese, Deputy Chief of the SPD parliamentary group in the Bundestag, called for Aiwanger’s immediate resignation. He said, “What is emerging day by day is an attitude that can only have one consequence – resignation.” If the leader of the Free Voters were to remain in office for longer, “it will increasingly become a problem for Markus Söder.”
Felix Klein, the Federal Government’s Commissioner for Antisemitism, said Aiwanger’s statements harmed remembrance culture in Germany. He said, “Efforts in schools and memorial sites to teach younger people a critical and responsible approach to the Nazi crimes are undermined by Mr. Aiwanger’s behavior.” Klein suggested that a responsible handling of Germany’s legacy would involve a proactive and comprehensive clarification of one’s own role in the creation and distribution of this antisemitic pamphlet.
However, Aiwanger’s main concern seemed to be defending himself against accusations of promoting antisemitism as a student. “His apology to the victims of the Nazi regime came only after days of pressure from the outside,” criticized the Commissioner. “Minister Aiwanger’s previous approach, portraying himself as a victim of a campaign against him and expressing himself as late, as little, and as lacking in empathy as possible, sets a bad example in politics for young people in Germany.”
Meanwhile, the Executive Board of the Free Voters in Bavaria, the Executive Board of the state parliamentary group, and the members of the Cabinet of the Free Voters in the state all stood “united” behind Aiwanger.
Aiwanger is alleged to have written an antisemitic hate sheet when he was 17 years old, according to the “Süddeutsche Zeitung.” He had already denied this in writing. However, he admitted that “one or a few copies” were found in his school bag. The school subsequently initiated disciplinary proceedings against him. Shortly thereafter, Aiwanger’s older brother admitted to having written the pamphlet
