Söder is sticking with Aiwanger
The Bavaria Minister of Economy provided answers to 25 questions about the leaflet issue on Friday evening. He is now allowed to remain in the Free State government – despite criticism of his “crisis management”.
The Hubert Ewanger case: a sensitive profile of Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder.
Photography: Peter Knevel (Keystone)
In the case About an anti-Semitic post Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) is abstaining from personal consequences for the time being. Söder said in a brief press conference on Sunday morning that his deputy, Economy Minister Hubert Ewanger (Free Voters), was allowed to remain in his post. The dismissal would be “disproportionate”.
Soder talked about the “weighing process.” He “did not make the decision easy” for himself. Soder said he wanted a “fair trial” and “no intentional bias.” Ewanger provided answers to a questionnaire about the matter Friday evening and, according to Soder, had a long conversation with Soder Saturday evening. “Unfortunately” Ewinger’s crisis management was not good.
The background is the events surrounding an anti-Semitic leaflet that appeared at the former Ewanger School in Lower Bavaria in 1987/88 in which Holocaust victims were mocked.
Iwanger has repeatedly denied that he wrote the leaflet that was found in his school bag 36 years ago. He did the same on Thursday when he made another public statement. The leader of the Liberal voters admitted his mistakes, but did not speak openly about resigning. “I am deeply sorry if I hurt my feelings through my behavior in response to the post in question or any other allegations made against me from my youth,” he said.
“I made mistakes when I was a teenager”
Statements appeared that “give the impression that when I was a young man I chose an inhumane path.” As a young man he “also made mistakes” and apologized to the victims of the Nazi regime and “to all those involved in the valuable memorial work.”
At the same time, Iwanger emphasized that he sees himself as a victim of a political campaign. “I was never an anti-Semite, I was never a misanthrope,” he said. A negative image has been painted about him in the past few days. The politician concluded the statement with the words: “This is not me, this is not Hubert Ewanger.”
The 25 questions Söder asked Iwanger
Two days earlier, Bavarian Prime Minister Söder confirmed – after a crisis meeting of the government coalition in Bavaria – that Ewanger’s previous statements on this issue were not sufficient. The post was “disgusting and disgusting”, and was “the worst Nazi terminology” and not “a stupid boy’s joke or just a youthful sin”. Mere suspicion damages Bavaria’s reputation and the personal credibility of the Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs.
Hubert Ewanger makes a campaign appearance on Sunday in Kieferloh near Munich.
Photography: Oi Lin (Keystone/DPA/September 3, 2023)
However, based on the information available so far, the dismissal is not justified and would be “excessive,” Söder said. The Minister of Economic Affairs must have the opportunity to completely dispel the accusations against him. However, it is unlikely that there will be any new allegations. Soder and CSU asked Aiwanger to answer 25 questions regarding the post. Ewanger agreed to answer this question “on the spot” – and Responses sent on Friday To the State Chancellery.
red
Found an error? Report now.
“Tv specialist. Friendly web geek. Food scholar. Extreme coffee junkie.”
More Stories
Odessa is on fire after the missile attacks
Millennials are supposed to become “the richest generation in history.”
Asylum and Migration Charter: Piet Jansz praises the agreement with the European Union on asylum reform