In anticipation of a regional election in Bavaria later this year, Hubert Aiwanger, the deputy premier of Bavaria, is facing a controversy involving an antisemitic flyer that was circulated at a German secondary school over 30 years ago. The flyer, which was parodied as part of a national history competition, made offensive references to Nazi concentration camps and the Holocaust, according to the Sueddeutsche Zeitung.
Aiwanger, who is now 52 years old, denies being the author of the typewritten document. However, the newspaper claims to have multiple witnesses who say that Aiwanger was summoned before a school disciplinary committee in 1987 when he was 17 years old, after the flyer was discovered in a school lavatory.
Bavaria’s conservative premier, Markus Soeder, expressed concern over the allegations, describing the flyer as “hateful and revolting,” and called for a thorough investigation. Aiwanger, a member of the populist Free Voters party, currently governs Bavaria in coalition with Soeder’s Christian Social Union (CSU). Soeder has expressed his desire to continue their alliance after the upcoming election.
Aiwanger released a statement late Saturday, asserting that he did not write the flyer, but rather, one or more copies of it were found in his schoolbag. He also mentioned being aware of the identity of the person who did write it and stated that this individual would voluntarily come forward.
Leaders of the Social Democrats and Greens in Bavaria have demanded that Aiwanger step down if he is indeed the author of the flyer. Meanwhile, the election campaign in Bavaria has been marked by tensions, with Aiwanger attempting to adopt a tougher stance on immigration than Soeder. In a recent debate, he criticized the government for being too lenient towards Syrian refugees.
The Christian Social Union currently holds 39% support in opinion polls, while the Free Voters, which command 12% support, may be a crucial ally for the party. If the Free Voters were to withdraw their support, the CSU might have to form a government with the more left-wing Social Democrats or Greens, who are part of the federal coalition in Berlin.
In Germany, charges of antisemitism carry significant weight due to the country’s historical responsibility for the Holocaust. The issue of the flyer has sparked further concern and is likely to impact the upcoming regional election in Bavaria.
Source: Reuters
Credit: The Star : News Feed
