Bavarian deputy leader faces pressure over old anti-Semitic flyer

By Erbil Basay

BERLIN (AA) - The deputy premier of the German state of Bavaria is under pressure over allegations regarding his role in preparing an anti-Semitic flyer during his school years.

Bavarian Premier Markus Soder demanded Tuesday that Hubert Aiwanger, who is also the state’s economy minister, answer 25 questions about the incident, which took place over three decades ago.

Aiwanger promised to answer the questions but denied writing the Auschwitz leaflet, which mocked the Holocaust.

Soder said he will make a final decision after he gets answers from the deputy premier, who is also the leader of the rightwing populist Free Voters party.

He said however that Bavaria's image was damaged by the incident, adding that even suspicion damages Bavaria's reputation and of course Aiwanger's personal credibility.

The 52-year-old Aiwanger was accused of preparing the anti-Semitic flyer and circulating it while he was studying at Burkhart High School in the 11th grade, according to the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.

While denying the allegations, Aiwanger, admitted however that he had "one or more copies" of the flyer in his school bag at the time.