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Deputy premier of German state Bavaria dies suddenly

Reuters
Deputy premier of German state Bavaria dies suddenly

BERLIN, Nov 4 (Reuters) - ‌The deputy premier of the German state of Bavaria ​and ‌leader of the small conservative Free ‌Voters party, Hubert Aiwanger, died suddenly on Wednesday, the head ‌of the state government said.

"The sudden death of Hubert Aiwanger is a terrible tragedy. We are all deeply ⁠shocked," Bavarian state premier Markus ‌Soeder said on ⁠the social media platform X.

The daily Bild ​newspaper reported that Aiwanger, 55, who also served as Bavaria's ​economy minister, had been in ​Berlin ‌for the opening of a party ​office in the German ⁠capital but had missed ‌the occasion after ​he felt unwell.

His ​body was later found in his hotel room, it said.

There was no immediate comment from Berlin ‌police or prosecutors and no word on the cause of death.

The ‌Free ​Voters of Bavaria have been in a coalition with the conservative Christian Social Union since 2018.

(Reporting by James ‌Mackenzie; Editing by David Gregorio)