(Vienna) Austria’s far-right Alliance for the Future of Austria Party fired its leader Thursday, a day after he said he had a longterm affair with the former head of the party.

Haider died in a high-speed crash earlier this month.  A police investigation revealed that the 58-year-old was killed shortly after leaving a gay bar where he had been seen drinking heavily and being intimate with another male.

Petzer was named party leader a day after Haider died. The party won 11 percent of the vote in national elections last month.

In an emotional interview, Petzner said he and Haider had “a special” relationship that went “far beyond” friendship.

“He was the man of my life.” Petzner, 27, said in the interview. “I only had him. Now I am all alone.”

Last Saturday, Haider was given the equivalent of a state funeral in Klagenfurt, the capital of the Austrian province of Carinthia where he was governor for more than a decade. More than 25,000 people attended.

Haider was married, but Petzner said his wife knew of the affair and did not object. There had been rumors in the Austrian press for nearly a decade that Haider was gay or bisexual but he refused to comment on the speculation.

Petzner dropped out of university five years ago when he met Haider at a party and quickly became Haider’s protege. Always at Haider’s side, Petzner was frequently referred to as “the shadow.”

After Petzner’s interview, he was unceremoniously dumped as leader by the party, even though for more than a year Haider had told party leaders he wished Petzner to eventually succeed him.

Petzner was replaced Thursday by Josef Buchner, 43. The party said that Petzner will serve as his deputy.

Publicly, the Alliance for the Future of Austria has opposed gay rights, called for an end to allowing immigrants and refugees into the country and advocated for dropping out of the European Union.