After the explanations of his deputy Hubert Aiwanger on an anti-Semitic leaflet from his school days, the Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) convened an extraordinary meeting of the coalition committee. Söder has summoned free voters for Tuesday morning, head of state Florian Herrmann (CSU) of the German Press Agency said in Munich.
“We have taken note of the statement. But many questions remain unanswered. Only Hubert Aiwanger can answer them personally,” said Herrmann. “We expect this to happen promptly. The allegations are too serious for a deputy prime minister to comment on in writing alone and leave crucial questions unanswered.” Aiwanger had to fully explain himself beyond the written statement. “It’s about Bavaria’s reputation,” said Herrmann.
Free Voter leader Aiwanger responded Saturday night that he had written an anti-Semitic tract as a minor at school in the 1980s, on which the South German newspaper reported on Friday evening.
“I did not write the article in question and I find the content disgusting and inhumane,” Aiwanger said in a statement. At the same time, however, she admitted that “one or more copies” were found in her school bag. A graphological report commissioned by the SZ came to the conclusion that Aiwanger’s thesis and the offending leaflet “were most likely written on the same typewriter”.
Shortly thereafter, Aiwanger’s brother, who is a year older, admitted to writing the pamphlet: “I was really angry at the time because I flunked school.”
