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Free voter boss Hubert Aiwanger
Photo: Matthias Balk / dpa
Free voter boss Hubert Aiwanger defends himself against the assumption that he invented the percentages in his controversial tweet on the day of the general election.
The Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs told the German Press Agency in Munich on Friday that he had taken over the numbers from someone else.
"No numbers have been added for our part or for me," he emphasized.
No fine for the free voter boss
On election day, percentages for the various parties were briefly published on Aiwanger's Twitter account before the polling stations closed, allegedly as of 3 p.m., and with reference to the election research group. In the list, the free voters were also shown with their own percentage. This was combined with a final call for elections for the Free Voters. The Federal Returning Officer checked the process because the publication of so-called post-election surveys is prohibited on election day. It then turned out, however, that the numbers did not come from such a post-election survey - which is why no fine was imposed.
A spokeswoman for the Federal Returning Officer explained on Friday that it was not clear where the numbers ultimately came from, at least not from a by-election survey.
In particular, it is not clear where the number of free voters came from.
"We assume it was invented by whoever."
A known third party should be to blame
Aiwanger said that he himself did not invent the numbers in the tweet.
"The full figures, including the number of free voters, came from a third person who is known to the Federal Returning Officer." That was also checked.
Aiwanger was attacked not only by the political opponent, but also by the Bavarian coalition partner CSU because of the tweet.
Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) demanded an apology - Aiwanger complied with the demand and apologized in the state parliament.
muk / dpa
