2023-09-01 12:30:08
Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) has described the apology of his deputy Hubert Aiwanger in the affair of an old anti-Semitic leaflet as overdue. At the same time, on Friday he increased the time pressure on the Free Voters boss to quickly answer the 25 questions put to him in writing. “Best of all today”, as Söder said on the sidelines of an appointment in Bechhofen in Central Franconia.
However, he still did not set a formal deadline for Aiwanger. Only then does Söder want to make a final decision on how to proceed: whether or not to dismiss Aiwanger a good month before the state elections. “It will only be decided following the questions have been answered whether everything will be sufficient in the end,” said the CSU boss.
“The apology yesterday was urgently needed,” said Söder. “It was also overdue. And that’s why it was an important moment.” However, many questions remained unanswered. “For me it is important that the 25 questions are now answered comprehensively and credibly, and promptly. And promptly means today, in the course of the day.” He emphasized that he would then be able to make a fair, balanced and credible decision.
Aiwanger had already denied in writing on Saturday that he had written an anti-Semitic leaflet when he was at school, which the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” reported on in its weekend edition. At the same time, however, he admitted that “one or a few copies” were found in his school bag. Shortly therefollowing, Aiwanger’s older brother admitted to having written the pamphlet.
Aiwanger apologized publicly for the first time on Thursday. With regard to the allegations, he stuck to previous statements – in particular that he did not write the leaflet and that he might not remember showing the Hitler salute as a schoolboy. At the same time, the leader of the Free Voters counterattacked, complaining regarding a political campaign once morest him and his party.
“I deeply regret if I have hurt feelings through my behavior in relation to the pamphlet in question or other allegations once morest me from my youth,” said Aiwanger. “My sincere apologies go first and foremost to all the victims of the Nazi regime, their surviving dependents and everyone involved and the valuable commemorative work.” There was no talk of a possible resignation.
Söder had already given his deputy a catalog with 25 questions regarding the allegations in the room for written answers on Tuesday. A spokesman for Aiwanger said on Thursday that these would now be answered “promptly”, but he did not give a date.
The criticism of Aiwanger has not stopped even following his apology. The President of the Central Council of Jews, Josef Schuster, told the “Bild”: “Hubert Aiwanger’s apology to the victims and survivors of the Shoah was a good step, albeit a long overdue one.” But: “Unfortunately, he combines this with a complaint regarding a political motivation of the allegations and still lacks the will to open clarification.”
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